Staff writer
The Goessel High School girls basketball team scored 42 points Feb. 22 against the Berean Academy Warriors, ranked third in the state. This was a pleasant turnaround after the frustrating performance Feb. 21 at White City.
Goessel seniors worked together as Shanna Klassen dished off to Jennifer Van Horn in an early fast break that gave the Bluebirds a 2-1 lead. Van Horn hit a 3-pointer several trips later down the court, but that would be the only points for the Bluebirds in the first quarter as Goessel trailed, 14-5.
Berean was aggressive and unselfish as they found open shooters around the basket to score 9 unanswered points to start the second quarter. Van Horn hit another basket, Klassen worked hard for a rebound and hit 2 free throws, Alex Hiebert dropped in a bank shot, and Johanna Hoffman hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to complete the scoring for the Bluebirds in the second quarter.
Berean was able to accumulate 19 points in the quarter to take a lead to the locker room at halftime, 33-14.
Klassen and Van Horn assisted each other for 6 more points and D’Ambra Kruger hit 3 points in the third period to go along with a free throw from Jessica Harvey and a Hoffman jump shot. The Bluebirds were outscored, 16-12, in the third frame.
In the fourth period, Berean had chances to increase their lead to 30 points, but Goessel kept knocking in points and when the substitutes came in with less than 4 minutes to play, the Bluebirds outscored the Warriors, 13-0, to end the game with Berean winning, 58-42.
Van Horn led the Bluebirds with 17 points, 6 steals, and 2 assists. Klassen ended the night with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Hoffman scored 5 points, Harvey hit 4 free throws, Kruger ended with 3, Hiebert added 2, and Aimee Flaming scored 2 points.
White City
The Bluebirds traveled to White City on Feb. 21 and the frustration started early. The Bluebirds only scored 4 points in the first quarter as Goessel trailed by 6 at the end of one period.
Goessel was able to get many looks at the basket, but only made 2 field goals in the second quarter to go along with a free throw and they still trailed by 6 points at halftime, 15-9.
In the third period, the Bluebirds were whistled for 11 fouls, but fortunately the Huskies were only 3-of-14 from the foul stripe and Goessel outscored the home team, 8-7, in the quarter.
Goessel had opportunities to take the lead in the fourth period but went 0-for-7 in attempts from the foul line. With 37 seconds to play in the game, a Van Horn 3-pointer got the Bluebirds as close as 29-26.
Turnovers haunted the Bluebirds near the end of the game and the Huskies hit 3-of-4 free throws to seal the victory and send Goessel home with another close loss.
Van Horn ended with 7 points. Klassen finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Harvey added 5 and Flaming and Hiebert each had 4 points.
The girls ended the regular season with a record of 5-13 overall and 2-6 in the new Wheat State League.