Bluebirds Soar Over Scrappy Eagles On Senior Recognition Night
Brittney Hiebert is a State Champion runner. She may not be a sprinter, but her ability to run the break tonight made a big difference for Goessel. Hiebert scored 24 of the Bluebirds’ 50, mostly on pushes to the bucket in transition. Her 65% 2FG% from the floor was huge as were her 13 rebounds in a strong double / double. The Udall Eagles are a young, scrappy team with only one Senior and love to run; this contest was an unusual matchup for the Bluebird squad more accustomed to zone defenses and deliberate sets in the paint. According to Coach Hoopes, it was good for Goessel to face a pressing, hands in the face team, in advance of sub-state next week. Goessel’s Seniors, Olivia Duerksen and Jennifer Meysing, along with Manager Lanna Wagner and Cheerleaders Kaytlin Shipp and Autumn Strecker were honored as part of Senior Recognition night along with their parents. After going 25-20 at halftime, this one ended 50-37.
Turnovers and missed lay-ins plagued each team to start. Brittney pegged one in to Eden Hiebert for the 2-0 lead, then Goessel ran an inbounds set to perfection to Brittney, and Kara Burkholder hit 2 more off the break. Timeout Udall at 5:05. Goessel went to work against the young Eagle team, throwing long with Brittney then Olivia Duerksen finishing on the break. Kara zapped a shot directly to Brittney long the next time down the floor. Break after break off steals, traps and corralled Eagle passes led to a 10-0 run and an 18-8 quarter.
Udall began the 2nd quarter with a mini-run of their own, going 5-0 to start. In the back and forth quarter, the Bluebirds could not get the up-tempo running game going and did not score until Olivia followed an Eden miss at the 3:50 mark. Now in the 1-1, Brittney did not convert at the line and Udall closed to 20-16. In a flurry of action, all from #11 Weber for Udall and #11 Stephany Meyer for Goessel, the score went from 23-18 to 25-20. Each #11 scored a bucket and missed the front end of the 1-1 to close the 7-12 quarter at 25-20.
To start the 2nd half, Goessel ran “Money” to perfection, then Brittney pushed hard inside, was hammered and hit both charities. Udall called time at 2:03. Udall was called for its third illegal screen of the night. Abby Hannon added two charities and was credited with Luke Unruh Hustle points on a tie-up next time down the floor. Goessel showed great ball movement two separate times down the floor and Eden was able to finish twice to close out the 3rd quarter 35-27.
Eden ran coast to coast but her lay-in would not drop, Brittney was there and had her back to follow for two. Jennifer Meysing coasted a long shot to Brittney for 2 more and Coach Hoopes called time at 5:22. A fan made note that Goessel’s girls play with great unselfishness. Despite the “in your face” defense from the Eagles (who came into the contest 13-6 (9-2 in their league), Goessel’s ball-handling held out despite losing some long shots downfield out of bounds for turnovers. Eden collected her 4th foul at 4:32, stayed in, but fouled out for only the 2nd time this year at the 1:57 mark. Udall’s lone Senior fouled out at the 3:57 mark. The Eagles used a scorched earth fouling strategy to stop the clock and Goessel was only able to hit 2 of 6 down the early homestretch. Olivia followed a free throw miss for two and Abby swished a 10 footer to go to 47-34. Goessel called time at 1:57. Goessel went to the line in the double bonus three times and hit only 1 of 6 and Brittney hit in the paint for a final two to take the final score to 50-37.
Brittney Hiebert hit for 24 points (12 in quarter 1 and 8 in quarter 4), scored in every quarter and pulled down 13 boards for the double/double on the night. Eden was a key ball-handler against the near constant full court Eagle pressure, put up 8, including 6 in the 3rd, and added 11 boards for Goessel. Goessel committed 28 turnovers, a stat that is not likely to keep the Blue in the win column in post-season. Goessel had four blocks on the night. The Bluebirds were only 10 for 22 from the charity stripe, tonight, something that needs to notch up in post-season play as well. Abby Hannon came off the bench for 6 points including 4 for 7 free throw shooting. Goessel’s Seniors, Olivia Duerksen, hit for 6 and pulled down 6 boards; Jennifer Meysing scored 1 point. Stephany Meyer went to the line in the 2nd quarter and put up 3 for 5 for 3 points. Kara Burkholder added two on a break in the first. Also in for Goessel were Savanna Wuest and Leah Booton. Goessel plays the winner of the Little River / Burrton game 2-27-17 on March 2, 2017 at 7:30 pm in the Goessel sub-state.
