By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

The Goessel Bluebirds eked out a win Friday, defeating Solomon, 43-38.

After building a lead of 11 points in the second quarter, the Bluebirds found themselves only ahead by 2 points, 32-30, at the beginning of the fourth period.

It took more than two minutes for the Bluebirds to score their first points in the final quarter, but a John Berkholz 3-pointer, was followed by a Braden Unruh jumper and a Trey Schmidt steal and layup for a sudden 7-point run.

Eight missed free throws in the final four minutes made the Bluebird victory a little more difficult than needed as Goessel held on to win.

Davis Cook battled inside early in the game, scoring 8 points in the first quarter, going 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Solomon’s Josh Burdine was the go-to guy for the Gorillas as his long wingspan and great vertical leap helped him swat Bluebird shots away from the basket. Goessel led 14-5 at the end of the first period and built a 20-9 lead midway through the second frame, but from that point Solomon was determined to cut into the deficit.

The Bluebirds led by 8 at halftime, but only by 4 at the end of three periods.

Although no Goessel player reached double digits in scoring, it was a balance scoring effort by the Bluebirds. Cook scored 9 to go along with 12 rebounds. Berkholz hit 8 points. Unruh scored 7. Corey Buller dropped in 7 points with 2 assists and brother Nic Buller scored 6 points. Schmidt scored 4 points with 2 assists and Neal Brubaker hit 2 points with 5 steals.

Hope game

The highly ranked Lions from Hope came to the Goessel gym Jan. 4 and took advantage of the Bluebirds, defeating them, 55-34.

The defense for the Lions deflected many bounce passes and intercepted too many lob passes to give Hope a 14-point lead before Unruh would be able to get Goessel’s first score with 1:17 left in the quarter.

Nic Buller was successful in getting a basket to start the second half and then scored 5 points more to cut into the Lions lead. Hope was able to stretch the lead to 28-9, but then the Bluebird offense began to click as Brubaker, Nic Buller, Unruh, Buller, Cook, and Trey Schmidt outscored Hope, 16-2, to get as close as 5 points. Hope finished the half with two free throws, but the Bluebirds had managed to cut into a huge deficit.

In the second half, the Bluebird offense sputtered again, only getting 4 points in the third period and 5 points in the fourth quarter, as Hope was able to take home a victory, 55-34.

Nic Buller led the team with 11 points followed by Unruh with 8. Cook dropped in 6 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 steals. Schmidt canned a 3-pointer. Jake Smucker, Brubaker, and Corey Buller each had 2 points.

The Goessel boys ended the week with a 4-4 overall record and 2-1 in the Wheat State League. The Bluebirds have two away games this week — Rosalia on Tuesday and Elyria on Friday.