Staff writer
The Goessel girls’ basketball team breezed to the title of the Bluebird Classic on Saturday, chalking up wiins against Elyria Christian, Little River, and Canton-Galva.
The Bluebirds played Little River in the second round of the tournament, after beating Elyria Christian in the first, 40-22.
The taller Bluebirds befuddled Little River with pressure defense that resulted in numerous easy baskets.
Goessel jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and after a Little River score the Bluebirds reeled off 15 consecutive points, as Little River had trouble advancing the ball past half court. The first quarter ended with a 20-6 Bluebird lead.
Coach Ryan Hoopes called off the full court press in the second quarter, Little River shifted to a zone defense, and the scoring pace slowed. The Bluebirds led 24-12 at the half.
Refreshed from the break, the Bluebirds went to work on defense, dominated the boards, and exploded for 24 points in the third period.
“Coach keeps telling us that rebounding is a mental thing,” Page Hiebert said. She pulled down 11 offensive rebounds and 3 defensive rebounds.
When the Blubirds lead topped 30 in the fourth quarter, the clock ran non-stop the rest of the game. Goessel won easily 52-23.
Hiebert ended with 19 points, followed by Aleena Cook with 17. Eden Hiebert dropped in 8 points.
The Bluebirds press created havoc again against Canton-Galva, as Goessel jumped out to a 15-5 lead at the end of the first period.
The Eagles scored the first 4 points of the second quarter, but Goessel scored the next 8, putting the Bluebirds in command 27-14 at the half.
The second half started with an Eagles bucket, but the Bluebirds poured in 13 consecutive points, nine coming from long range.
Goessel led at the end of the third quarter 46-27, and allowed just 4 points in the fourth en route to a 59-31 win.
Four Bluebirds reached double figures in scoring as Eden Hiebert and Alicen Meysing each had 12 points. Page Hiebert scored 11, and Aleena Cook laid in 10 points.
Goessel is 4-0 and starts league play at home against Rural Vista on Friday.