Goessel boys win one, lose one in overtime
By DELBERT PETERS
Contributing writer
The Goessel boys jumped out to a quick start in the semifinal game on Thursday in the 1A regional game held in Junction City.
Goessel led 13-4 in the first quarter against Hope, but several baskets later the Lions were back in the hunt as the quarter ended with a Bluebird lead 17-14. Goessel scored the first eight points in the second quarter to take their largest lead of the night 25-14, but Hope came storming back scoring seven unanswered points to get the game back to a four-point Goessel lead.
Goessel would match baskets with the Lions for the rest of the half and went into the locker room with a 32-27 lead. Jeremy Voth and Clinton Plenert had successful shots close to the basket due to quick passes from the guards, and the Bluebirds were successful from the free throw line down the stretch again in this game.
A Kent Peters three pointer, late in the third period, gave Goessel a 44-37 lead. But Hope was not giving up as they got within one point with 4:10 remaining.
For the rest of the game, Goessel would stay ahead but never by more than four points. The Bluebirds won the game 56-52, assuring them of a berth in the 1A sub-state tournament.
Scoring for the Bluebirds against Hope were Jeremy Voth with 21 points, Clinton Plenert with 19, Kent Peters with 13 and Jesse Goertzen with three.
The victory on Thursday, propelled the Bluebirds into the regional finals against the host school, St. Xavier.
Goessel struggled in the first and second quarters, as the two senior players from St. Xavier, Milton Wells and Lee Gustafson, led their team to 26-12 half time lead. But the packed house was not to witness a blow-out, as the Bluebirds began to peck away at the lead. With 3:00 minutes in the third quarter Goessel trailed 22-28, only to see the Rams extend the lead to 12 points by the end of the quarter.
Goessel pulled out all the stops defensively, and methodically rebounded the Rams' missed shots and converted points at their end of the floor.
Plenert, who had not scored for three quarters, canned 13 points in the fourth quarter and helped the Bluebirds tie the score at 52-52 with 1:50 to play in the game.
The St. Xavier lob passes inside were being intercepted by Jeremy Voth. Goessel could not take the lead but always tied the score. With 9.2 seconds remaining, the Bluebirds called a time-out but could not score as the game went into overtime.
St. Xavier quickly scored five points, and the Bluebirds tried to catch up again in the four minute overtime period. Two Jesse Goertzen free throws tied the game 63-63.
The Rams got ahead by two points, and the Bluebirds planned another play in a time-out with 17.6 seconds remaining. A questionable call with five seconds remaining, prevented the Bluebirds from converting a score and Goessel lost 65-67.
Scoring against St. Xavier were Voth with 22 points, Plenert with 16, J. Goertzen, K. Peters with 11 each, Ben Schimdt with three, and Aaron Stehman with one.
The boys will play in Clay Center against Centralia (23-0) at 6 p.m. on Thursday for the first round of 1A sub-state play. Winning two more games will allow the Bluebirds to advance to the state tournament in Hays.
