Work
Goessel Varsity Guys Basketball - Inman @ Goessel November 30, 2018
Goessel’s guy’s varsity squad this year sees 4 returning letter-winners (Zach Zogleman, Dylan Lindeman, Jerah Schmidt, and Jacob Hagewood) along with 6’0” Freshman Skyler Wuest, 6’0” Sophomore Jake Hiebert and Spanish inquisitor 6’2” Miguel Ballesta. Also seeing action for the first time since 1A sub-state at Lebo in March 2016 is 6’3” Senior Drew Lindeman, who has seen heartbreaking injury for two of his four high school years. According to Coach Guhr, “defense will be a key focus for the Bluebirds this season.” Goessel sports a team roster of 32, nearly enough for an NFL team. The Bluebirds’ theme of “work” symbolizes their desire to become more cohesive as a team as the season progresses through pushing each other to higher and higher levels.
Goessel began the season at home against the robust Inman Teutons, who walk on to the floor starting all Seniors but most noticeably Mason Thiessen at 6’8”. The season began with the Teutons tearing to 0-13, forcing Coach Guhr to call time at 4:39. Junior Dylan Lindeman took a charge to get things back on track for the ‘Birds and at 3:47 Junior Hagewood came off the bench to knock down a smooth 10 footer. Now in better rhythm, Goessel’s Drew Lindeman stroked one from so deep it caused the characters in the Christmas carriage at grandpa’s house to break out in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” 5-17. Ballesta caught a carom, dribbled the distance and stopped under the bucket with too tall Thiessen looming. With a spectacular head fake, Ballesta had the photo op of the night as he made the bucket and had Thiessen draped over him like a gumby Rock of Gibralter. The first quarter ended 7-17.
Inman’s coach Brett Froese didn’t like the Teuton start and called time at 7:34. Dylan pulled up baseline and dropped one in from 15 but the visitors kept coming and left it at 11-25. At 3:35 Ballesta dolloped one from so far out, the Seville church bells rang continuously for 3.35 minutes, but Goessel could not sustain the surge and it was 14-32 moments later. Dylan Lindeman recorded a superb block on big man Thiessen in the paint and brother Drew Lindeman was credited with a 2nd charge taken, with fans breathing a sigh of relief as he jumped up afterward. Goessel showed solid from 3 point land tonight with Junior Jerah Schmidt finding the seam from somewhere close to Mr. Guhr’s back yard to close to 19-34. The 12-19 2nd quarter closed at 19-36.
Fans were entertained by the superb efforts of a trash can drum line . Nice job!
In a back and forth 3rd quarter neither team could crack the code early. Jaxon Eddy was called for his 3rd foul and Goessel was able to take advantage of his time on the bench. Dylan Lindeman showed his court potential, coasting in with a half court steal, getting fouled , then going hard to the hoop next time down for the three point play inside. At 2:35, he brought the fans to their feet draining a trey from pretty much the next county. 26-46. Drew Lindeman ignited the fans with two more supreme efforts to close the quarter, one another long three from across the dream fishing pond while the defender was left holding a prize catch. 31-51.
Goessel showed great hands in the 4th quarter. Jerah drove into the redwoods, leading a break, swiveled and twisted and hovered at the apex of his leap dropping the perfectly executed spin shot off the glass against hands that were extended in a cacophony of obstacles for one of the great moves of the night. Eddy was called for #4 but this time Goessel could not find traction and the Teutons ran it to 33-57. Hiebert had a nice runner in the paint. Dylan stroked two charities to remain nearly perfect from the line tonight. But Goessel could find no more offense and the 6-17 quarter left the contest finished in running clock at 37-68.
Dylan Lindeman put up 13 and Drew Lindeman 10 on the night. Miguel Ballesta and Jerah Schmidt each scored 5 and Jake Hiebert + Jake Hagewood each notched 2 to round out the Bluebird scoring. Also seeing time on the court tonight were Kale Funk, Nate Zogleman, Luke Wiens, Skyler Wuest, Zach Zogleman, and Eddie Gaeddert.
-Karl Brubaker
