By Delbert Peters

Sports reporter

For the first time this season, three Goessel players hit double digit scoring Friday at last week’s Fairfield tournament.

After ending the first quarter 13-13, Goessel edged ahead at halftime 26-20, but Fairfield scored 21 points in the third quarter to grab a 41-38 lead.

“We got behind in the second half by about five or six,” coach Ryan Hoopes said. “Their big girls were a handful, but our girls worked extremely hard and gave a team effort.”

Goessel tied the game late in the fourth quarter, and Bethany Herrel hit a bucket to eke out a 51-49 win with 15 seconds remaining.

“This is the first close win for us this season, so the girls were pretty excited,” Hoopes said.

Goessel lost 46-31 Thursday to ninth-ranked Central Christian despite going 10 of 11 from the free throw line.

The Cougars took a 13-5 lead to end the first quarter, extended their lead to 14 by halftime, and the deficit grew to 41-24 through three quarters.

Goessel is 3-9 for the season and returns to play four Wheat State League games.

Friday scoring summary: Elizabeth Schmucker, 10 points; Elizabeth Alderfer, 7; Bethany Herrel, 6; Proclein Unruh, 5; Rachael Zogleman, 2; and Riley Graber, 1.

Saturday scoring summary: Bethany Herrel, 13 points; Porclein Unruh, 12; Elizabeth Schmucker, 11; Riley Graber, 5; Elizabeth Alderfer, 3; Lyna McCombs, 3; Emily Flaming, 2; and Rachael Zogleman, 2.

Boys lose to Moundridge

The Bluebirds had no quit Friday, as the boys scratched their way back after falling behind 14 points early in the fourth quarter against Moundridge.

Goessel was as close as six points, but the Wildcats left victorious with a 51-45 win.

Moundridge jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes, and Goessel never led.

A Skyler Wuest 3-pointer ended the first quarter with Goessel behind 10-14.

Goessel regrouped several times to cut into double-digit leads, with a 23-15 deficit at the half.

The Wildcats opened a 10-point lead to start the third quarter, but a cold spell allowed the Bluebirds to fight their way to a three-point deficit late in the third quarter.

With 2:29 left in the game, Moundridge’s lead swelled to 14 points.

Dylan Lindeman, Nathaniel Zogleman, and Wuest all scored to get as close as 45-38. Caiden Duerksen controlled the offensive boards and scored five points in the last minute to get to 49-43, but the rally was too little, too late.

The boys are 8-4 and play Friday at Little River, and Feb 11 at Centre.

Scoring summary: Skyler Wuest, 12 points; Duerksen, 12; Lindeman, 12; Zogleman, 7; and Kale Funk, 2.