Douglass 45, Goessel 42

By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

Goessel High School girls basketball team came storming back Saturday to erase a 14-point halftime deficit against Douglass at the Berean Academy tournament.

Goessel did not play well in the first half and Douglass led, 26-12, at the break. Scoring 14 points in the third period, the Bluebirds narrowed the gap to 34-26. Another offensive performance showed Goessel outscoring Douglass in the fourth quarter, 16-11. The Bluebird barrage of points allowed them to take the lead at 42-40.

“The girls showed a lot of heart the second half,” coach Ryan Hoopes said. “They could have easily thrown in the towel, but they didn’t. This group continues to work hard and give it their all, which makes them fun to coach.”

However, the Bulldogs were able to convert 3 free throws at the end of the game and left the court with a 45-42 win. For only the second game this season, two Bluebirds scored in double figures in the same game.

Shanna Klassen led the team with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals. Alex Hiebert came through with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Jessica Harvey knocked in 5 points with 3 steals, Johanna Hoffman scored 4 points, and Aimee Flaming and Jennifer Van Horn each scored 3 points.

Klassen was selected to the all-tournament team.

Burrton 43, Goessel 36

In Thursday’s second-round game, the Goessel girls led at the end of the first period, 6-4. Burrton took charge in the second quarter, outscoring the Bluebirds, 17-11. The third quarter ended with Burrton ahead, 37-30. Both teams only scored 6 points in the fourth period for a final score with Burrton winning, 43-36.

Klassen acquired her second double double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Van Horn and Hoffman each scored 8 points, with Flaming connecting for 4 points and Harvey hitting 2 free throws.

Berean 48, Goessel 30

In the first round of the Berean tournament Jan. 24, Goessel girls faced the high-ranked Warriors from Berean. It was not until the second quarter that the Bluebirds began to hold their own against the power of the 9-0 home team. Goessel fell behind, 15-2, to begin the game but then matched Berean 8-8 in the second quarter. The Bluebirds lost ground in the third and fourth quarters as Berean won the contest, 48-30.

Harvey led the Bluebirds with 9 points and 4 steals, Klassen hit 8 points with 5 rebounds, Hiebert scored 6 points, D’Ambra Kruger hit a 3-pointer, and Flaming and Van Horn each scored 2 points.

The Bluebirds, now 2-10 overall and 1-3 in league play, were to play Little River on Tuesday but the game was postponed because of inclement weather.

Both Goessel teams will play at home Friday for homecoming against Centre. Both games this week count in the Wheat State League standings.