Goessel 51, Peabody-Burns 22
Staff writer
The Goessel High School girls basketball team could not capitalize on a 10-point lead in the first half as Peabody-Burns girls came storming back Friday in the fourth quarter to nearly catch the visitors at the Peabody-Burns homecoming basketball game.
Goessel jumped out to an 8-0 lead by the end of the first period. The Bluebirds managed to get the lead to 13-3 with a little more than two minutes to play in the first half. The Warriors scored 4 points in the last minute of the half to cut the deficit to 13-7. Two free throws by Shanna Klassen, a basket by D’Ambra Kruger, and a 3-pointer just before the third quarter ended gave the Bluebirds a 20-13 with just eight minutes to play.
After two more free throws by Klassen, the Warriors scored 7 consecutive points to get the crowd on the edge of their seats and Goessel’s lead shrank to 22-20. A free throw by Kruger and a basket by Jessica Harvey gave the Bluebirds some breathing room with less than two minutes to play. Peabody-Burns managed another basket and then sent the Bluebirds to the free-throw line to stop the clock. Goessel responded, making 4-of-8 shots to finish the game with a win 29-22.
Klassen again led the team with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Kruger scored 5 points and Harvey managed 5 points with 3 steals. Aimee Flaming scored 3, Alex Hiebert knocked in 3 points, and Jennifer Van Horn scored 2 points.
The Goessel girls are now 2-5 in the Wheat State League and 4-12 overall. Goessel will travel to Argonia and Canton for games this week and then play at White City on Feb. 21 and Berean at home on Feb. 22 to end the regular season.
Little River 46, Goessel 22
Only three players scored Thursday against the highly ranked Little River girls as the Bluebirds got behind, 8-0, and were forced into 31 turnovers to doom their chances of winning this Wheat State League contest.
After the Bluebirds fell behind, Klassen, Van Horn, and Harvey each scored points in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 6 points, 12-6. The same three girls each scored another 2 points each in the second period, but the Redskins made some easy baskets from their aggressive defense and scored 6 consecutive points to end the half with a lead of 26-12.
Klassen was the only Bluebird to score in the third period as Little River’s lead swelled to 38-17. The scoring pace slowed a bit in the fourth period with the Redskins clearly in control and the game ended with a final score of 46-22.
Klassen led the team with 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Van Horn scored 6 points and Harvey knocked down 5 points.
GHS 51, Flint Hills 23
An explosion of points in the third quarter helped the Bluebirds to an unusually easy win Feb. 7. Goessel High School girls basketball team defeated Flint Hills, 51-23, in a weather-delayed game.
Goessel trailed 7-8 at the end of the first period. A layup by Kruger early in the second quarter gave the Bluebirds a lead they would never relinquish. The Mustangs only scored 3 points in the second period and no points in the third as the Bluebirds led 38-11 going into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, the Bluebirds hit 7-of-9 free throws to win, 51-23, as teams emptied the bench to let everyone play.
Goessel’s two seniors led the team in scoring with Klassen making 13 points and getting 5 steals and Van Horn scoring 10 points with 4 assists. Hiebert scored 8 points with 7 rebounds. Johanna Hoffman dropped in 7 points, Kruger had 5 points and 5 steals, and Flaming and Harvey each had 4 points.
The win broke a five-game losing streak with their highest point production for the season.