Goessel boys finish regular season with win
A Brett Goerzen three pointer in the first quarter gave Goessel a 7-5 lead in Tuesday's game with Hope, but that would be the last lead the Bluebirds would have. The Lions stretched their lead to seven points at half-time with a score of 26-19.
A three-pointer by Hope in the third quarter gave the visitors a 35-23 lead, but Goessel made a run. Ryan Janzen scored on a close range jumper, Jordan Voth drove the lane for two, Janzen successfully blocked a Lions shot and then was fouled on a made basket at Goessel's end of the floor. The made free throw forced a timeout by Hope, Tyler Schroeder connected on a layup and Goessel trailed 32-35 with less than three minutes left in the third period. By the end of the third quarter Hope again stretched their lead to seven points 34-41.
With 6:05 to play, the Bluebirds pecked away at the deficit and got the score as close as 40-43. As the game neared the end, Hope managed to hit six of eight free throws and closed the game with a final score of 49-57.
Scoring for the Bluebirds in the last regular season home game of the year were Janzen 21 points, 7 of 7 from the free throw line; Tyler Schroeder scored 8 with 9 rebounds; Travis Buller, 8; Jordan Voth, 5; Brett Goerzen, 5; and Garrett Hiebert, 2.
Goessel defeated Ell Saline in the last regular scheduled game of the season. This win evened the score between the two schools this year, as the Bluebirds lost to the Cardinals in the Canton Galva Tournament in January.
Goessel jumped out to a 16-5 lead at the end of the first quarter and the second quarter saw a flurry of scoring from both teams as the Bluebirds poured in 23 points and the Cardinals managed 20 points in the quarter.
Ell Saline made a run at the visitors in the third period, but the Bluebirds maintained a 55-44 lead. In the fourth quarter Goessel hit 9 of 9 freethrows and extended their lead further to a final score of 76-54.
Scoring for the Bluebirds were Janzen with 17; Hiebert, 15 points and 12 rebounds; Voth 14 points 6 of 6 free throws; Buller, 13; Goerzen, 9; Justin Fensky, 4; Jake Meeks, 2; and Schroeder, 2.
Goessel shot a splendid 19 of 21 free throws as a team. The win gives the Bluebirds a record of 6-14 overall and 2-8 in HOA games.
