My Best Aways
Goessel Varsity Girls Basketball - Inman @ Goessel November 30, 2018
After losing all 5 starters from its 16-5 (9-0 WSL) 2017-2018 season, Goessel looks to be in rebuilding mode in 18-19. With several players with solid varsity experience on successful teams, Coach Ryan Hoopes (in his 12th year) indicates “girls will be put into new roles this year, but they are up for the challenge.” In their first contest of the season, the ‘Blue faced a solid, big and deep Inman team at home. Under the beautiful new west side league champions banners, Goessel’s young women carried their 18-19 hopes on to the hardwood with the team motto: “My Best Always” (MBA).
Inman’s Teutons have a deep bench and kept front court pressure on the Bluebirds nearly the entire first half. In a back and forth first quarter after an 0-6 start, Senior Madison Smith stroked one off the glass from a nifty feed from Junior Porclein Unruh. Sophomore Lizzie Schmucker found pay-dirt with 1:25 left on a no holds barred drive into the paint and hit the front end of two to close the first quarter 3-8.
To cheers of “Go Big Blue” from the ever-enthusiastic Bluebird Cheer Team, Goessel sought to continue the momentum into the 2nd. However, it was not to be as the visitors went on a 10-0 tear to leave it at 3-18. Goessel showed great poise on defense, flying all over the floor, but ball-handling woes against a pressure Teuton defense created many Teuton scoring opportunities. At the 3:00 mark Unruh hit 1 of 2 charities. At the 1:11 mark, Senior Stephany Meyer was called for her third personal and had to sit. With 40 ticks left Senior Haley O’Neal drove to the hole and brought the 2nd quarter to 3-15 to leave it at 6-23 at the half.
In zone to start the 2nd half Goessel looked like they were better able to corral the voracious movement of the Teuton bigs. Showing good hands, Goessel put up several great stops. At the 6 minute mark Meyer twirled in the middle and popped a baby hook so pretty it brought the fans in the upper deck to their feet. A moment later, she pulled in an over the shoulder pass and was hammered in the paint. Using her patented “chicken wing shot put” free throw motion, her two charities looked solid but did fall in. At 4:25, Liz Schmucker struck for two more, then Meyer caught another long pass and finished solid to close to 12-28. With the momentum at DefCon 3, the Bluebirds rolled, beating the press and Meyer laid it in 14-28. Next time down in the post, Meyer, now on a roll, was pummeled inside again but could not convert the charities. According to fan Ron Ediger, “the wind was blowing too hard from the south” as several player’s charities failed to find iron tonight at that end of the gym. Meyer got one more FT then rolled on a sensational left side post move to close to 17-30, but was called for her 4th personal in the open court 10 seconds later. Fans had yet a glimmer more of hope as Senior Rebecca Sawyer, who has a very nice shooting motion, banked one in from so far out the special Christmas treats at Keiths all spontaneously flew out off the rack. Goessel won the 3rd quarter 13-11, showing great poise and signs of what is possible, and began the final stanza down 19-34.
In the 4th quarter, the Bluebirds could find no traction and the contest closed 21-43. Junior Elizabeth Alderfer had the only field goal in the final quarter. Goessel showed nice movement on offense but could not finish.
Meyer finished with 9 to lead the Bluebirds, Schmucker had 3 and O’Neal, Smith, Alderfer, and Sawyer each put up 2. Unruh scored 1; also seeing playing time were Sophomores Raechel Boese and Bethany Herrel and Senior Megan Guerrero. Coaches are Ryan Hoopes assisted by Brooke Holloway and Manager Rylie May, Renee Nolte. Stats are by Lyna McCombs.
-Karl Brubaker
