Staff writer
Both Goessel boys’ and girls’ teams made it to the Saturday finals of the 1A Division 1 substate at Lebo, but saw their seasons end with losses to Lebo and Waverly.
The boys, seeded third, started strong in the final behind Zach Wiens’ 12 first-quarter points and the Bluebirds were tied with No. 1 seed Lebo 17-17.
Goessel took a 21-17 lead on a Rhett Makovec 3-pointer and Wiens scored twice inside to give the Bluebirds their biggest lead, 25-20, with less than 3 minutes remaining in the half. The Wolves came back to tie the game 25-25 at the break.
Lebo stormed ahead in the third quarter to lead 36-30, and after Goessel pulled to within 2 on another Makovec trey, the Wolves scored once more to lead 38-34 at the final break.
The Wolves created some breathing room with an 8-1 run to to open the fourth quarter, and held on from the free-throw line to win 51-42, ending the Bluebirds’ season.
As he did every game of the season, Wiens led Goessel in scoring with 19 points, followed by Makovec, who was 4-of-4 from 3-point range, with 14.
The Bluebirds came back from a 13-point deficit to defeat Marais Des Cygnes Valley 45-44 on Thursday.
Goessel trailed 44-43 with 9 seconds left in the game, but Wiens took an inbounds pass under the Bluebirds’ basket and converted with 1.8 seconds left for the win.
Wiens led the Bluebirds in scoring 14, with Jordan Griffin following with 11.
The Bluebirds finished the season with an 11-12 record, 5 games better than last year.
Girls go cold
Top-seeded Goessel scrambled its way to an 18-16 halftime lead in the championship game against Waverly, hitting just 24 percent from the field in the first half, but faltered in the second, losing 43-34.
The Bluebirds got baskets by Eden Hiebert and Alicen Meysing and 3 free throws by Page Hiebert in a low-scoring first quarter that ended with Goessel leading 7-5.
Baskets by Page Hiebert and free throws by Aleena Cook sent the Bluebirds to the locker room at halftime with a shaky 18-16 lead.
After Waverly opened the third period with an 11-3 run, the Bluebirds lost what little shooting touch they had, scoring just one more field goal the rest of the game.
Goessel stayed within striking distance at the free throw line, with Meysing hitting two to pull within 35-32 with 2:50 to play in the game. Long-range desperation shots wouldn’t ball for the Bluebirds, as the Bulldogs pulled away to win 43-34.
Page Hiebert led the team in scoring with 16 points. Eden Hiebert lead the team as point guard, scoring 7 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing 3 assists.
Goessel faced Marais Des Cygnes Valley in a Friday semifinal game, and overcame a 28-25 halftime deficit to win 67-42.
Brittney Hiebert hit a basket with 4:40 to play in the third quarter to give the Bluebirds a lead they would not relinquish, and Goessel steamrolled from there.
Page Hiebert led the team with a season high 27 points, and Cook hit 12,
Ashley Hiebert, Page Hiebert, Meysing, and Cook played their last games in a Bluebird uniform and finished the season with a record of 20-3.