GHS defeats Canton-Galva in two overtimes
By DELBERT PETERS
Contributing writer
The Bluebird boys needed two overtimes Friday night to defeat the Canton-Galva Eagles 54-50.
Goessel played a close game through the first quarter with balanced scoring but Canton-Galva built a 25-15 lead near the end of the second period with a lot of jump shots within 15 feet. The Bluebirds were down 25-19 at half time.
Goessel scratched its way back into the game in the third quarter with Garrett Hiebert and Travis Buller combining for 11 of the Bluebirds' 14 points. Buller was three of eight in three-point shooting in the second half and had a game high 18 points. Hiebert finished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Eagles took a 36-33 lead into the fourth quarter. A three-pointer by Buller with 1:10 left tied the game and he hit three of four free throws to give Goessel a 46-43 lead with 12.7 seconds to go. Canton-Galva canned a three-pointer with time running off the clock, sending the game into overtime.
In the first extra period, free throws played a big part as the Eagles hit three of four for their only points and Brett Goerzen hit one of two with 44 seconds to play to tie the game and send it into another overtime.
In the second overtime, Ryan Janzen scored first for the Bluebirds and then had several key blocked shots to keep the Eagles from scoring from close range. Janzen finished the game with four blocked shots, six rebounds, and 10 points. Justin Fensky hit one of two free throws to give the Bluebirds a three-point edge.
After an Eagle free throw with 3.8 seconds left and the Bluebirds ahead by two, Canton-Galva put Buller on the line again and he made both charity tosses to cinch a 54-50 win.
Jordan Voth scored four points; Fensky and Jake Meeks, three points each; and Goerzen and Tyler Schroeder, one point each.
Goessel lost 50-37 last Tuesday night to Trinity in Hutchinson. The Bluebirds held the lead into the third quarter but Trinity went into a scoring burst and outpaced Goessel.
The Bluebirds play Jan. 4 at Moundridge.
