Staff writer
Goessel kept its league record unblemished with a 57-32 win over Centre on Friday.
The taller Bluebirds hit 45 percent of their field goals and bounced out to a 15-6 lead at the end of one quarter. Goessel maintained the 9-point lead through the second quarter and went into the break with a 27-18 advantage.
The Bluebirds extended their lead in the third quarter behind Eden Hiebert’s 10-point scoring barrage. Goessel continued to outscore the visitors in the fourth quarter with five different players scoring points. Goessel won 57-32.
Eden Hiebert led the scoring with 22 points and 5 assists. Brittney Hiebert scored 12 points and gathered 9 rebounds. Jennifer Meysing scored 9, Olivia Duerksen 5, Kara Burkholder 4, Savanna Wuest 3 and Stephany Meyer 2.
Friday’s win came on the heels of a 49-37 thumping of Little River. Brittney Hiebert picked up the scoring slack for the flu-ravaged Bluebirds, dropping in 24 points.
The Bluebirds are 7-0 in Wheat State League games and 13-2 overall. Goessel plays their last two league games this week at Herington and Peabody.
Boys
On senior night Friday at home, the Bluebirds allowed Centre to advance to a 15-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, as Goessel was only able to sink one field goal. The Cougar offense moved the ball quickly and Cole Srajer hit three 3-pointers in the first half.
Jordan Griffin scored 7 of the Bluebirds’ 12 second quarter points, but Centre pushed their lead to its biggest margin 30-14. Rhett Makovec and Griffin each scored 2 points before the buzzer, and Goessel trailed 31-18 at halftime.
Second-half magic looked like it might work again for the Bluebirds. Several baskets by Rhett Makovec and 3-pointers from Miguel Guerrero and Dylan Lindeman got the Bluebirds as close as 36-30. Centre stretched its lead to 48-37 at the end of the third period.
But the fire had been lit in the Bluebirds, as rebounding became more effective. With 5 minutes to play, Centre had an 8-point lead. Beisel hit a 3-pointer and Lindeman connected on a jumper. Griffin found the basket from close range and Lindeman popped in a trey.
The Bluebirds called time-out with 1:10 left in the game. On the next play, Beisel knocked the ball free and Lindeman put in the basket to bring Goessel to within 1, 59-58.
But the Bluebirds would get no closer. Centre hit 4 of 6 free throws and the Bluebirds missed their two chances. Makovec ended the game with a 3-pointer, but Centre escaped the Bluebird gym with a 65-61 win.
For the second game in a row, Griffin tallied a double-double 20 points and 10 rebounds. Makovec ended with a season-high 17 points, followed by Lindeman with 14. Beisel added 6 and Guerrero 4.
It was the second heartbreaker in a row, following a 42-39 loss to Little River in which the Bluebirds missed one late shot for the lead, and a second that would have sent the game to overtime.
Griffin ended with 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Bluebirds.
The Goessel boys are now 5-10 overall and 1-6 in Wheat State League games.