Bluebirds Ground Bombers
Goessel Girls Basketball - Wakefield @ Goessel December 15, 2017
Deeper and with more experience, Goessel’s girls team simply wore out the visiting Wakefield Bombers Friday night at home. Senior Eden Hiebert hit for a quiet 25 points, team-mate Senior Abby Hannon buried three huge treys, and Senior Brittney Hiebert poured in 10 more in the 58-18 win. Goessel led 21-1 before scrappy Bomber Senior ball-handler Gabi Nelms notched a field goal with 6:47 left in the 2nd quarter. Congratulations to Eden Hiebert for breaking her own steals per game record on Saturday against Elyria with 12.
Goessel was only tied once in this contest: 0-0. Senior Leah Booton followed on the first possession for two, then caught a long fling the next time down for two more. Amidst squeaks and squeals in the PA system, Wakefield called time at 5:47 down 4-1. At first blush, the Bluebirds had trouble finishing inside, but at 3:12 Hannon buried one from what looked like beyond the FACS room. Nelms was called for a charge directly in front of the Bluebird bench. Off a steal, Senior Kara Burkholder found Hiebert in stride and Wakefield could not stop the onslaught with a timeout at 1:21. Junior Stephany Meyer hit Booton underneath for a nifty finish 14-1 then blocked at the opposite end, handed off to Hiebert who went end to end to lead 16-1 at the buzzer.
Once again, Hannon caught the circle pass in the corner and hit a shot so lovely it made the cover of Kansas Vogue. Brittney found Eden off the pick for the 21-1 lead. Bomber unforced errors did not help the visitors’ cause. Leah caught a #33 miss and followed to lead 25-3, then Abby found Eden coasting in the paint for another fine close. Next time down the floor, at 3:39 Eden stopped, set, and coasted one in so smooth it barely ruffled the net. Wakefield closed with 5 to leave it at 32-10 at the half.
After the break, Eden threw an “early season” Alex Smith pass long to Brittney on the break; at 6:00 Eden launched from 1/3 around the circle with a shot so glowing that it caused the lights to dim in adjoining townships. 30-11. This quarter went all Bluebird, as the home squad ran it to 46-13 in the 21-6 quarter. A highlight transition bucket was Eden’s no-look to Stephany as Goessel showed great ball movement, defensive stance, and crashed the defensive boards with quick release on the break. Eden found the range from the top of the circle this time and the nylon swallowed the long arc with barely a gulp. 53-15.
With the bench cleared in the running clock 4th quarter, Abby powered one more long trey in from beyond where the Basketball Buddies were sitting. Marina Bidegain jumped a passing lane, cavorted down the floor and did a 360˚ pirouette under the bucket. The layup frolicked around the rim interminably before falling in. Goessel got a nice block underneath and this one finished with multiple turnovers on travelling calls 58-18.
Goessel got 25 from Eden Hiebert tonight, with 5 in the first, 9 in the 2nd and 11 in the 3rd quarter. Brittney Hiebert hit for 10 and Abby Hannon 9. Leah Booton put up 8 including 6 big first quarter points. Marina Bidegain, Kara Burkholder, and Stephany Meyer each contributed 2 in the wide margin win. Also seeing action tonight were: Madi Smith, Jenna Nightingale, Haley O’Neal, Emily Meier, and Savanna Wuest.
-Karl Brubaker