Bluebirds spread wings for fourth-place finish
By DELBERT PETERS
Sports Correspondent
One hundred Class 1A teams wonder what it's like to play at the state basketball tournament.
Until Saturday, for 18 years, Goessel had been one of them.
But this year the Bluebirds not only went to state, they won two out of three games they played at the big dance at Fort Hays State University.
In fact, Goessel came within a last-second tip-in of placing third overall, but fell to Olpe 52-50 in the consolation final.
So, the Bluebirds finished fourth in the state, with an overall record of 23-5.
"This year's team was a group of guys that competed so hard in every game this season," head coach Justin Coup said. "I don't think I have ever had a team where the players all improved during the season to reach their potential, like this group."
State tournament summary
After winning the sub-state championship at Butler Community College in El Dorado two weeks ago, Coup's Bluebirds needed a little time to adjust to the brighter lights and bigger arena at Hays for its first-round game against Wallace County.
"It took about one quarter for the guys to grasp the perspective of the big arena and the magnitude of the game," Coup said.
Goessel 65, Wallace County 54 (state first round)
Goessel led most of the first half and by as many as seven points, before Wallace County put together a run to cut the deficit to four points. GHS led 29-25 at halftime.
The Wildcats got within one point on a three-pointer 33-32, but after a turnover by each team, Travis Buller answered with a three to give the Bluebirds a 36-34 lead.
After trading baskets the rest of the third period, Buller hit another three-pointer to lift the Bluebirds to a 41-36 lead with 3:43 to play in the third quarter.
Garrett Hiebert scored from close range, Jordan Voth picked up a loose ball and scored, Nathan Amstutz spun to the basket for an easy bucket, and the Bluebirds led at the end of the quarter 47-39.
Hiebert scored first after the teams returned to the floor and Goessel played good defense that contributed to some baskets. The Bluebirds sported a 14-point lead with 2:48 to play in the game.
Even though Wallace County would hit two more three-pointers, the Bluebirds made enough free throws at the end of the game to secure the victory and the satisfaction of no worse than a fourth place finish at state.
Hiebert scored 23 points (12 rebounds), Nathan Ensz 13, Buller 12, Voth 9, Nathan Amstutz 4, Austin Unruh and Brett Goerzen, 2 each.
South Gray 56, Goessel 48 (state semi-finals)
Tournament directors must have been pleased with the competitiveness of the fifth-seeded Bluebirds staying close with the top-seeded Rebels from Montezuma Friday afternoon.
South Gray High School defeated Goessel 56-48 in the semi-final round.
It was another slow start for both teams as the first quarter ended with a 6-5 score with Goessel ahead. Turnovers plagued both teams and neither team could hit a three-pointer in the first eight minutes.
But things changed in the second quarter. The Rebels scored nine straight points to open the quarter. Buller dropped in a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five points 14-9, but immediately South Gray made a three-pointer of its own and scored another basket to take its largest lead of the first half, 19-9.
The Bluebirds fought back within five points and Voth connected on a three, only to be matched by the long ball from the Rebels. The half ended with Goessel trailing 23-18.
The Bluebirds came out ready for action in the third quarter and promptly tied the game 23-23 with baskets from Hiebert and Voth.
South Gray pushed its lead to four points several times, but with just more than a minute to play in the third, Sheldon Goerzen popped in a three-pointer to get within one point, 36-35. Ensz matched a Rebel basket to end the third quarter with Goessel trailing, 38-37.
An Eli Applegate basket gave the Rebels a six-point lead, 49-43, with less than four minutes to play. An Amstutz free throw and an Ensz basket got the Bluebirds back within one possession.
The Bluebirds' shooting percentage began to drop as they sensed the end of the game was approaching, and the need to foul in order to prevent the Rebels from running valuable seconds off the clock.
Goessel was outscored 7-2 as the final seconds ticked away and the Bluebirds missed several desperate attempts to get the ball into the basket.
Voth led the team with 15 points, Hiebert 14, Ensz 8, S. Goerzen 5, Buller 3, and Nathan Amstutz 3.
South Gray went on to win the state championship Saturday.
Olpe 52, Goessel 50 (state consolation championship)
Saturday's game against Olpe at state was a rematch of the championship match at regionals.
Goessel had defeated Olpe two weeks earlier and now both teams lost in the state semi-final games and were playing for third place. Olpe won this contest 52-50 on a last-second shot.
Voth opened the scoring for both teams with a three-pointer off the glass and Buller hit two more three-pointers along with a Voth layup.
The Bluebirds led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter. Goessel's efficiency picked up in the second quarter as the big men from the Bluebird team scored 11 points and the defense held the Eagles to only nine points in the quarter.
Hiebert sank two baskets and a free throw, Ensz scored two baskets and two free throws, and Unruh made two free throws.
Brett Goerzen drove into the lane and made it all the way to basket for a layup and Voth gave the Bluebirds an eight-point lead with a three-pointer just before halftime.
Goessel fans were hopeful for a repeat victory against one of the best teams in the state as the scoreboard showed the Bluebirds ahead 27-19.
The Eagles came into the third quarter with a more aggressive defense and it helped them erase the halftime deficit. Bodies from both teams were flying after loose balls in desperate attempts to give their team an advantage.
With less than three minutes in the third quarter, Olpe had out-scored the Bluebirds 13-6 and trailed 33-32. Ensz hit a jumper but the Eagles answered with a three-pointer to tie the game at 35-35.
Buller canned a three-pointer, only to be answered by another three from the Eagles. Olpe scored one more basket in the quarter to take its first lead of the game, 40-38, as the third quarter ended.
The Bluebirds were not finished and went on an 8-1 run to take a 46-41 lead. Olpe scored a traditional three-point play and crawled within two points, but with 3:14 to play in the game Sheldon Goerzen hit two free throws to push the Bluebird lead to 48-44.
Olpe made two baskets to tie the game at 48. After a turnover by the Bluebirds, Goessel called a time-out with 1:18 to play.
The Bluebirds pressured the inbound pass and the Eagles nearly threw the ball out of bounds. An Olpe player grabbed the ball and desperately called for a time-out before his feet landed well beyond the court.
The referee granted the time-out and Olpe scored on its next possession.
The Bluebirds brought the ball across half court and called a time out with 32 seconds to play. Brett Goerzen found a seam and dribbled to the bucket, but pulled up for an eight-foot jump shot that kissed off the glass and went in with 14 seconds to play and tied the score 50-50.
A time-out was called by the Eagles with 8.8 seconds in the game. The ensuing play saw an Eagle shot from the left side, bounce high above the rim and then hit the rim again, but Olpe senior Seth Pargman timed his tip perfectly and the ball went through the net with no time left in the game. Olpe won 52-50.
Statistics for the Bluebirds: Buller 12 points, Hiebert 11 points, 10rebounds, Voth 9 points, Ensz 6 points, 6 blocked shots, B. Goerzen 4 points, Amstutz 4 points, S. Goerzen and Unruh, 2 points each.
"The Pargman kid had an awesome game tonight (20 points), but we could have hit the glass (rebounded) a little better," said Coup.
