Balance helps Bluebirds to victories
By DELBERT PETERS
Contributing writer
Peabody-Burns High School jumped out to an 8-0 lead Jan. 8 and it took nearly the whole first quarter for Goessel High School to get back into the game.
The Bluebirds eventually won 60-51.
PBHS canned a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter to lead 16-14.
An Austin Unruh layup with a free throw, and a Cameron Voth three-pointer, gave the Bluebirds a 22-18 lead with four minutes to play in the second quarter.
The Warriors battled back and outscored Goessel 13-4 to go into halftime with 31-26 lead.
"Our offense clicked in the second half," GHS coach Justin Coup said. "We had balance tonight with five players hitting three pointers."
A four minute stretch late in the third quarter and early fourth quarter rained three-pointers for the Bluebirds.
Travis Fensky, Seth Ott (two), and Kendall Voth all hit from long range yet Goessel still only led 44-37.
Peabody-Burns got as close as 46-43, but then had to foul to stop the clock.
Goessel hit 10-14 free throws in the final four minutes of the game to earn its first league victory of the season.
Both teams shot as good or better than 50 percent from beyond the three-point line.
Ott had his best game of his senior season with 12 points, Unruh and Nathan Ensz each scored nine (eight rebounds each), Voth knocked in seven, Craig Banman and Travis Fensky each tallied six, Weston Hiebert scored five, and Cameron Voth and Kurtis Duerksen each nailed a three-pointer.
Goessel 58 Bennington 54 2(OT)
It took two overtimes, but Goessel picked up its second league victory Friday at home against Bennington.
Lawson Montgomery, Bennington senior, hit his fifth three-pointer in the second half at the buzzer in regulation to tie the game and send it into overtime.
Bennington scored first in overtime, but a Voth three-pointer and two free throws by Ensz, gave the Bluebirds a 52-50 lead with ten seconds to play.
Again the Bulldogs tied the score to send the game into the second overtime.
Bennington scored first again, but two free throws, a 12-foot jumper by Banman, and free throws by Ott and Unruh, sealed the victory for the Bluebirds.
Goessel trailed 10-4 early in the first quarter and built a 40-30 lead midway through the third period, before claiming its second victory in a week.
Leading the way in scoring for the Bluebirds were: Voth 13, Ensz 11, Unruh 10, Fensky eight, Hiebert five, Duerksen and Banman four, and Ott three.
Goessel is now 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the Heart of America League.
The Goessel boys will compete this week in the Burrton tournament.
Sedgwick
Goessel High School boys' basketball team suffered its second loss in a row Jan. 4.
This time against a quick and accurate shooting Cardinal team from Sedgwick.
Goessel trailed by two at halftime, but the Cardinal quickness in the third quarter turned the score into a big advantage for Sedgwick and they were able to hold on for the 47-35 victory.
Saturday's game was the last of the Bluebird Classic that was postponed Dec. 8.
Burrton was sporting a 7-0 record coming into the game and jumped out to a 9-5 lead.
The Bluebirds tied the game at nine at the end of the first quarter.
Travis Fensky hit three, three-pointers to begin the scoring for the Bluebirds in the second quarter and Goessel led at halftime, 23-19.
Burrton kept the game close. In the third period, Goessel missed all six of its free-throw attempts, but the Bluebirds scored the last basket of the quarter to tie the game 31.
GHS went on an eight-point run in the fourth quarter and the Chargers fouled the Bluebirds hoping to stop the clock.
Goessel shot 21 free throws in the final quarter, making 12, and holding on to the lead for a 47-44 victory.
Leading the way for the Bluebirds was Austin Unruh with 16 points, while Travis Fensky garnered 14.
Nathan Ensz dominated the boards with 15 rebounds and 10 points.
Seth Ott scored four points, Craig Banman two, and Kendall Voth one.
Goessel won the Bluebird Classic championship and now holds an overall record of 4-2 and 0-2 in the Heart of America League.
