Goessel girls lose to Centralia
By DELBERT PETERS
Contributing writer
Goessel girls advanced to the 1A sub-state semifinals in Clay Center but were defeated 74-52 by a strong and highly ranked Centralia team.
Goessel got behind 6-0 but tied the game at 9-9 with 2:11 in the first quarter. The Panthers finished off the quarter with a 15-11 lead.
Tara Goerzen and Melinda Stucky led the scoring in the second quarter as Goessel managed to stay close to the taller Centralia team. Darla Funk scored from short range, and a Lindsey Unruh lay-up tied the game at 21-21 with 3:25 to play in the second quarter but again the Panthers would connect on several lob passes and a three pointer to take a half-time lead of 29-24.
Centralia outscored the Bluebirds in the first part of the third quarter 14-4 with 4:14 to play. The Bluebirds matched the Panthers bucket for bucket for four minutes playing solid defense with Candace Bailey and Becky Schroeder shadowing the Panther's long range artist. Centralia banked in a 30 foot shot at the buzzer for a third quarter lead of 52-36.
Centralia gradually extended the lead in the fourth quarter by as many as 24 points to end the Bluebird season with a 13-11 record. Scoring for the Bluebirds were Tara Goerzen with 21 points, Melinda Stucky with 17, Darla Funk with six, Becky Schroeder with four, Lindsey Unruh with two, and Jessica Graber and Shannon Schmidt each with one.
