Defensive Gem
Goessel Varsity Guys Basketball - @ Wakefield December 18, 2018
Goessel fans kept glancing at the scoreboard. From the 6:16 point in the first quarter, when Murray hit a banked three, until 3:14 left in the 3rd quarter it was stuck on 3 for the home team. The Bluebirds’ flex man and zone configurations gave the young Bomber squad fits and kept the home team off the board for 19 minutes. That’s no points in the time it takes Coach Lindeman to get donuts from Newton for every team member. In the defensive night, Dylan Lindeman scored in every quarter and led all scorers with 14.
Dylan led off tonight’s contest in the now well-lit Wakefield Coliseum with a steal and lay-in to the cheers of Goessel’s faithful and well-traveled fans. Under the big “Together” poster, Drew Lindeman swished from 10, but at 6:16 in the defensive fest, the Bomber’s Murray put up a prayer from way outside and banked it in to stay at 4-3. After several pushes back and forth, Jake Hiebert launched one from beyond “the Hanger” sign and with one toe on the bomber at mid-court. With full court pressure, Skyler Wuest pulsed one up to lead 9-3 and then with some great quick hands passes, the Bluebirds converted another to Dylan and Wakefield called time at 3:05 down 11-3. Wuest caught a high-flying carom, went back up and was fouled on the follow for one of two charities. In a highlight of the night, Zogleman fed back out to Dylan, who caught and released a long launch that caused the propeller on the bomber in the old gym to spin out of control. The buzzer sounded as the ball was 1.35 meters from his outstretched shooting hand and Goessel led 15-3 after one.
To the resounding call from the cheer team of “Go, Go Blue and White….” Goessel kept the defensive clamps on the Bombers. In the annual battle of Beards and Birds, no flight sorties happened in the back and forth 2nd. Dylan fed a no-look slip pass on the baseline to Drew for a near perfect finish, then Wuest reciprocated with a well-crafted in-pass to Dylan for the 19-3 lead. Dylan capped off all the offensive activity of the quarter with a steal and lay-in and the Bombers called time at 4:14. Stifling D kept this one totally neutral and the 2nd quarter went 6-0 and the half finished 21-3.
Dylan floated a runner and Goessel continued to flex back and forth between man and zone. One time down the floor the Bluebirds padded their offensive rebounds with about 4 but could not convert. At 5:00, Drew coasted one in so smoothly, if the rim were Milford Lake’s surface there would have been no splash. Down the floor #33 swatted one so hard it was last seen heading toward the walking taco booth. Drew turned and polished another paint shot in. The Bombers’ Jackson broke the long 19 minute drought at 3:14 with a five footer in the paint 23-5. At 1:55 Uken put an inside move on and got fouled. Dylan found Skyler going to the hoop and the excellent roll put the Bluebirds up 30-7. Uken struck from across town to leave it at 30-10 at the end of three, with the Blue barely winning the quarter 9-7.
At 6:27, enforcer Krueger fouled out. Dylan stroked a huge three at 4:05 but it was sandwiched between treys from Bombers Murray and Hammond and Coach Guhr called time at 3:41 with the Bombers making noise at 33-18. It was not quite clipboard slam worthy, but attention was drawn to the Bombers’ 15-5 run. Dylan came out of the timeout and swished one from beyond the many pairs of Christmas socks assembled on the Bluebirds’ bleachers. Subs were all in at 1:26 with Goessel up 36-18. Skyler notched a spectacular move in the paint, Kale Funk was credited with taking a charge, and Skyler jumped a pass, went the distance, was fouled and nailed both charities to end the contest 40-18.
Goessel won each quarter tonight and used the explosive first quarter to make a defensive statement. This one was a defensive gem for the Bluebirds on a court that sometimes can be hostile.
Dylan led all scorers with 14, scoring in every quarter. Drew put up 9 and Skyler Wuest emerged with a statement game, going 3 for 4 from the line and finishing with 9 as well. Jake Hiebert launched two big treys and scored 8 on the night. Also in for the Bluebirds were: Jerah Schmidt, with key ball handling, steals and rebounds, Zach Zogleman and Miguel Ballesta. Seeing playing time in the closing moments were: Kale Funk, Eddie Gaeddert and Nate Zogleman.
-Karl Brubaker
