Boys pick up victories over Canton-Galva, Burrton

By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

Goessel was the tallest team in the Bluebird Classic basketball tournament, and at the end they stood tall with three wins and a championship.

With 10 points, Eden Hiebert was the only Bluebird in double figures in a tournament-opening 29-24 win Dec. 4 against Central Christian.

A scrappy Canton-Galva team trailed just 11-8 late in the first quarter Friday, but an explosion of 16 unanswered points in the second period allowed the Bluebirds to surge to a 34-12 lead. Canton Galva got as close as 45-33 in the fourth quarter, but the Bluebirds coasted to a 55-34 win.

Seven Bluebirds got in the scoring column, topped by Eden Hiebert with 18 points, and Brittney Hiebert added 13.

A trapping Bluebirds press against Little River on Saturday sent them flying to a 10-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 19-4 halftime. Little River was forced into 32 turnovers as Goessel capitalized on the errors. Brittney Hiebert scored 14 second-half points on her way to a season-best 22, Goessel stayed in control to win 46-24, remaining undefeated at 4-0.

Goessel will be at Wakefield on Tuesday and home with Rural Vista on Friday.

Boys

Fourth-quarter heroics came in bunches and bits for the Goessel boys as they picked up two wins and third place in the Bluebirds Classic basketball tournament.

On Friday, the Bluebirds outscored Canton-Galva 13-1 in six minutes of the fourth period to win their first game of the season. The blitz countered a 12-2 run by Canton Galva in the first half to take a 10-point halftime lead.

Goeesel trailed 36-27 at the end of the third period, but tough defense held Canton-Galva scoreless as Trevor Beisel hit a 3-pointer, Jordan Griffin put back a missed shot, Josh Schmidt got a steal and breakaway layup, and Beisel hit a jumper to tie the game 37-37 with 3:16 to play.. Lindeman hit a 3-pointer and Makovec dropped in a close shot. As the Eagles tried to gain traction, the Bluebirds hit 7 of 8 free throws in the last minute of the game to seal the victory 49-42.

Lindeman led the Bluebirds with 14 points and Schmidt added 10.

The Bluebirds trailed early against Burrton on Saturday, but a 10-0 run put Goessel ahead 16-10. The teams were tied at 20 when Lindeman swished a last-second 3-pointer for a 23-20 halftime lead.

After a Miguel Guerrero follow shot gave Goessel an 8-point lead, Burrton narrowed the gap to 38-36. Griffin rolled to the basket twice for a 6-point Bluebird lead. Burrton fouled to stop the clock, but the Bluebirds cashed in, hitting 5 of 6 free throws to secure a 47-39 win.

Lindeman finished with 15 points and Griffin added 10.

In a tournament-opening 44-42 loss to Central Christian, Rhett Makovec scored 16, Lindeman had 10, and Griffin netted 10.

Goessel is 2-2 on the season with league games this week at Wakefield and at home with Rural Vista.