Bluebirds Advance to Classic Championship
Goessel Girls Varsity Basketball v. Canton-Galva Eagles @Goessel Friday, Dec. 9, 2016
With almost a two foot cumulative height advantage among the two teams’ starting five, Goessel’s Lady Bluebirds looked to be a heavy favorite Friday night at the 2016 Bluebird Classic. The Bluebirds led from start to finish and by as much as 22. Canton-Galva Freshman ball-handler Emma Ruddle capably runs the Eagle offense, but the Bluebirds’ trapping press and staunch woman to woman were too much for her teammates. Eden Hiebert quarterbacks the Goessel offense, sees the floor magnificently, makes few mistakes and put up 18 tonight. Despite playing less than 10 minutes the first three quarters with foul turmoil, Brittney Hiebert put up 13 as the Bluebirds won going away 55-34.
Brittney looked strong in the paint to start, putting the Birds up 4-2, then Eden rolled off a steal, Kara Burkholder was fouled on a nice in-pass from Jenn Meysing and hit 1 of 2. At 5:11 Brittney was forced to sit with her 2nd personal. The Eagles called time at 4:18 down 7-2, Abby Hannon hit a nice jumper, and the visitors pulled back in it 9-6 . Eden lasered a bounce to Leah Booton for the nice finish, Everett tallied a steal for the Eagles, then Eden closed with a great caress off the inbounds set. Eden ran the entire floor, was fouled by Ruddle, and hit both charities. Off the pressure steal again Eden hit 1 of 2, then pulled down a board and ran the floor once more for yet another lay-in. The score was only 18-8 after the 7-0 push but the momentum made it feel like 30. The quarter closed 18-10.
After beating the press for one of the few times tonight, the Eagles were at 18-12. Olivia Duerksen caught a nifty assist from Jenn, turned and floated for two +1. Then Eden set and hit from the River City ice cream parlor…nothing but net…”zee gods!” At 5:37, Goessel’s mid-court pressure created another turnover, Goessel got a 10-second call but at 4:51 Brittney was called for her 3rd. In heavy traffic, Olivia went up, was fouled and slid two perfect FT’s into the inviting nylon. Not to be outdone, Kara went to the bank from just beside the flowing spring at Rec-arama, then a moment later Abby stroked another bank from way beyond the Branding Iron porch. Goessel pulled the press at the half up 34-15.
The third quarter was not pretty. At 5:17 Coach Hoopes called time after two buckets from the visitors. Eagle efforts took it to 34-21 before Brittney pushed hard inside against Ruddle for the 3 point play and forced the Eagle ball-handler to sit with 3 personals. Moments later, however, the Bluebird Junior returned to the bench herself with her 4th at 4:16. Kara hit a short jumper, Goessel called time again at 2:06, then Olivia turned nicely in the paint, but that is all the ‘Birds could muster in the 7-14 quarter, which closed with a flurry of Eagle sorties at 41-29.
The Bluebirds turned the tables in the 4th with a pretty Duerksen turn in the lane, an Eden follow, and yet another Brittney push inside. Eden added two more and Brittney polished off the contest with two more buckets, one off a very pretty bounce assist from Abby. Goessel’s entire bench saw action this evening with Madi Smith, Stephany Meyer, Jenna Nightingale, Emily Meier, and Savanna Wuest all in.
Leading the Bluebirds tonight was Eden Hiebert with 18 followed by Brittney Hiebert with 13. In an excellent outing, Olivia Duerksen tallied 7 and Kara Burkholder scored 6. Abby Hannon came off the bench for 5, Jenn Meysing put up 4, and Leah Booton 2. Goessel moves to the championship tomorrow at 5:30 pm v. the Little River Redskins. The Lady Bluebirds defeated Central Christian in Pool A Tuesday 29-24. Little River beat Burrton and just got by Elyria Christian in Pool B.