Strive - Turning Up the Heat in 2018
Goessel Girls Basketball - Canton Galva January 9 2018 Goessel, Kansas
Fans liked what they saw out of the chute tonight as Goessel’s Bluebirds jumped on the Canton-Galva Eagles for an 11-1 lead. On tough pressure up front and continuous defensive stretches, the ‘Blue looked daunting at times but at times suffered from post-Christmas malaise (20 turnovers) as well. Goessel allowed the visiting Eagles 7 points in the 1st quarter, 6 in the 2nd, 5 in the 3rd, and 4 in the 4th. Well rounded rebounding came from 8 different players, Goessel produced 17 assists and hit for an outstanding 46% from the floor. Eden Hiebert led the effort with 16 points including 50% (2 for 4) shooting from 3FG land, 100% from the line (4 for 4), 6 assists, 5 steals, and 8 boards. Nine Goessel players put their names in the scorebook as the Bluebirds go to 7-1 with the 52-22 win.
With superb efforts from Brittney Hiebert to start, Goessel was able to score twice in the first 25 seconds, then Hiebert pushed inside once more to go up 6-1. Abby looked strong on defense and caused some deflections and turnovers, but this is just one component of a Bluebird defensive machine that continues to strive to be stronger and stronger. On a break, Abby pirhouetted like a Swan Lake ballerina and found pay-dirt for two. Hiebert hit Booton long and the Senior handled her finish well, was fouled and hit the back end of two. The Eagles surged in the 2nd half of the 1st quarter on sloppy home team ball handling. 14-7.
On a snow jumper, the Eagles pulled within 5, 14-9, but Eden coasted in a follow of a Hannon miss, then Booton caught a carom of a Hiebert miss to go up 18-9. At 5:18, Brittney was called for her 3rd personal and had to sit after a tussle in the middle. At 4:56 Eden buried one from west of Moundridge and Booton took a charge from ball-handler Moddlemog. Goessel got a stupendous hustle block from Marina, and Goessel took charge going on a 10-2 run to close the half 31-13. The run included a cavorting lilt finish from Marina and a jumped Eagle pass, run and lay-in from Stephany Meyer and 4 for 6 free throw shooting.
Coach Hoopes credited the Bluebirds with getting on the floor after loose balls, their assists; Goessel held the Eagles to less points than their previous December meeting (31). In the 3rd quarter, scoring came from Booton, Burkholder and Hannon, who all hit silky-smooth near-perfect jumpers that all seemed to want to go in tonight. 41-13. Everett got a trey at the 3:00 mark. On a nifty inbounds play, Brittney caught and delivered off the glass for two but could not hit the charity. On the next play, she jumped the passing lane and coasted in nicely for two more. Goessel showed superb ball movement on a play when the sphere circled to Eden who put up a baseline jumper to lead 47-18. To close the 18-5 quarter, Brittney found Stephany for two more to close the 3rd at 49-18.
With the 2nd team all in with running clock, Kara hit the back end of two and Canton called time at 4:47. An erroneous Eagle bullet pass nearly whacked cheer team member Kirsten Horne under the Eagle basket. At 1:30 Madi Smith hit a nice 15 footer to go up 52-22 and Haley O’Neal forayed the length of the court for a lay-in but was snuffed at the bucket. Goessel moves to 7-1 with the 52-22 win.
Eden led all scorers with 16, Brittney 10, and Booton with 7. Kara put up 5, Abby and Stephany 4, and Madi, Marina, and Savanna (2 for 2 from the line) each scored 2. With 9 Bluebirds in the scorebook tonight and 8 team members pulling boards, fans were treated to a solid shooting night (46% from the floor). Also seeing action were: Jenna Nightingale, Haley O’Neal, and Emily Meier.
-Karl Brubaker