Contributing writer
The Goessel High School Bluebirds boys’ basketball team played very well in stretches in the first week after Christmas break, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Hope or Solomon.
Hope 52, Goessel 40
It was fairly balanced scoring for the Bluebirds on Jan. 3, but two of the tallest Lions combined for 37 points as Hope defeated Goessel, 52-40. The Bluebirds got off to a 9-4 lead in the first quarter as Braden Unruh, Nic Buller, and Davis Cook found ways to score.
Goessel led at the end of one period, 13-10. The taller Lions kept pounding the boards and went to the free throw line regularly, stifling the Bluebird offense in the process. Goessel scored 2 points in the second period and went into the locker room trailing, 23-15.
Goessel trailed by as many as 13 before getting several baskets in succession, but the Lions kept scoring and Goessel remained behind, 36-23, at the end of the third period. The Bluebirds would only be able to match the scoring and were unable to make much of a dent in the deficit as the game ended with a loss by a score of, 52-40.
Davis Cook ended with a double-double, scoring 11 points and 13 rebounds. Unruh added 10 points with two steals, Buller finished with nine points. Peter Voth dropped in four points with seven rebounds, Trey Schmidt added four points along with four assists and Drake Sterk put in two points.
Solomon 56, Goessel 45
A blistering second quarter for the Bluebirds gave them hope of another league win, but the Gorillas of Solomon dominated the other three quarters. Goessel fell behind in the first quarter and trailed by 10 at the break, 19-9. The 3-point shot got Goessel back into the game, as Braden Unruh and Shane Goerzen lit up the scoreboard. Midway through the quarter, Peter Voth scored on a fast break, and Goerzen canned a 3 from the top of the circle. Coming out of a time out, Unruh hit another 3-pointer. After his second 3 in the quarter, Goerzen got a steal and layup to give the Bluebirds a 29-28 lead. Solomon scored again before halftime to go into the break with a 30-29 lead.
Nic Buller tied the game with a free throw and then the offense went cold for the Bluebirds. At the end of three periods, Solomon had built a 44-34 lead. The Gorillas added to their lead in the fourth period as foul trouble affected the play of the Bluebirds. Goessel trailed at one point, 56-39, but ended the game scoring the last 6 points to record a loss at 56-45.
Shane Goerzen led Bluebird scorers with a season-high 11 points on three 3-pointers and a layup. Davis Cook added 10 points, and Unruh ended with 9. Buller finished with 7 points, followed by Peter Voth’s 6, and Trey Schmidt scored 2.
The Goessel boys are now 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the Wheat State League.