2016 Bluebird Classic Champions!
Goessel Girls Basketball - 1st Place Game – Saturday, December 10, 2016 v. Little River Redskins
Goessel used smothering defense to hold the Little River Redskins to two field goals in the first half on their way to a 46-24 championship finish. Junior Brittney Hiebert erupted for 22 and Junior Eden Hiebert added 13 as the Bluebirds finished strong in their home Classic once again.
Olivia Duerksen found Brittney rolling early for two, then Brittney caught an in-pass from Eden for two more. Olivia was called for her 2nd at the 6:03 mark. With fouls mounting, Goessel called time at 4:16. Brittney found pay-dirt again on the drive and hit both charities to go up 6-0. Off an an excellent weak-side screen, Eden found Kara open for two more, then Stephany Meyer banked an off-kilter jumper in heavy traffic to go up 10-0. With 28 ticks left, Eberle finally got the Redskins on the board; the freshman was effective from the exact same spot 5 times tonight.
Goessel’s trapping ¾ court pressure was too much for this opponent. Brittney grabbed the steal and converted the lay-up, then fed Eden for two more running “money” the next time down. Brittney went after a loose ball and went face first into the hardwood causing a collective “sigh” throughout the entire fieldhouse. With 1:31 left, Eberle hit again. Jenn Meysing hit on a nifty running drive, then Goessel set up its closing play patiently… Eden in the corner. As the buzzer went off Eden’s long arc fell through for the 19-4 lead at the half.
To open the 2nd half, Jenn caught a bullet underneath laid it up and was fouled. Eberle sandwiched two more touches around an Eden FT; Olivia again had to return to the bench with her 4th foul at 5:52. Eden grabbed an errant Redskin pass and forayed the length of the floor to go up 25-8; another Little River player, Renkin, made it into the record book with a field goal and Little River called time at 4:27. Down the floor out of the timeout, Eden missed a lay-in but Brittney was there to follow and laid it in. Next time down, Brittney continued her monster game with a strong turn in the paint. With continued Blue pressure, Mayer stole, fed to Eden, who bounced to Brittney in stride for the excellently executed points off turnover sequence 31-12. For the first and only time of the contest, Little River went to the line at the end of the quarter and Loder hit both ends for the 31-14 score after 3.
Olivia hit Brittney on a great cut, then the Blue attempted to float over the top to Leah Booton; Leah could not convert the 1-1 and when the Redskins crept to 33-20, Ryan Hoopes was not happy in the 5:16 timeout. Brittney found a superb baseline turn and it was Little River’s turn to call time at 4:38. Eden stroked a sensational runner +1, then caught a bounce on a great perimeter move, then fed Brittney on a huge back shimmer to go to 42-20. In rhythm now, the Bluebirds exhibited poise galore in the closing stanza. Olivia caught an in-pass in the lane and released immediately, catching nothing but net. Once again Brittney caught a near perfect bounce on the back door cut to take it to 46-20. With a minute left, Coach Hoopes cleared the bench and the visitors added two buckets to end 46-24.
Brittney Hiebert had a huge night after getting into foul trouble in the last game of pool. Her 22 tonight mostly came on strong pushes to the bucket from close range. Eden Hiebert added 13 including the lone 3 of the night for the Blue. Jenn Meysing played strong and scored 5, and Kara Burkholder, Stephany Meyer and Olivia Duerksen each put up 2. Also in for the ‘Birds tonight were: Abby Hannon, Madi Smith, Jenna Nightingale, Emily Meier, Leah Booton, and Savanna Wuest.
Congratulations Lady Bluebirds on this Championship! A special shout out to the cheer team of Kaytlin Shipp, Layci Froese, Julianna Schrag, Hailey Shipp, Elyse Boden, and Alex Nickel, the Goessel Buddies as well as the Bluebird band for their enthusiastic support of the Lady Blue.
