By DELBERT PETERS

Sports writer

Kendra Flaming led the Goessel Bluebirds with 13 points in a hard-fought game Friday in the Goessel gym, but the home team came up short and lost, 50-31.

Argonia, ranked second in the state in 1A, found the Bluebirds to be a tough match through two quarters. Aspen Frey came up with eight of Goessel’s first 10 points to give the Bluebirds a 10-8 lead with 40 seconds to play in the first quarter. Argonia answered with a basket and then Flaming hit a 3-pointer just before time ran out, as Goessel led 13-10. With a Bluebird 15-10 lead, the Red Raiders scored six and the lead seesawed for the rest of the quarter with the game knotted at 21-21 at halftime.

Argonia played more aggressively in the third quarter, taking chances on defense, going for loose balls, and setting solid screens. The Bluebirds found themselves behind, 31-24, with three minutes to play in the third quarter and the deficit grew to 13 points by the end of the quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Bluebirds scored five points from the free-throw line without any field goals. Argonia won the game, 50-31, scoring the last seven points.

Karis Janzen led the team with seven rebounds, Frey dished out four assists, and Karina Harvey came up with six steals.  

Scoring for the Bluebirds were Flaming with 13, Frey 9, Jessica Goertzen and Karis Janzen each had 4 points, and Shanna Klassen hit 1 point. The Goessel girls are now 3-2 as they take a break for Christmas. When they return, they will begin league play at Hutchinson Trinity on Jan. 5 and at Sedgwick Jan 8.