Gorillas Beat Bluebirds
Goessel Varsity Girls Basketball - v. Solomon January 8, 2019
Solomon’s Gorillas used a one-two punch from Senior all-around ball handler/shooter Kayla Webb and 7 treys from three different players to lead by as many as 18 and finished 20-35 Tuesday night. Webb scored 17 and Freshman Kugler hit (4) nearly every three attempt she put up for 12 points. Goessel led after the 1st quarter 6-4 but a disastrous 2-10 run left it at 8-14 at the half. The third quarter went 7-16 and the fourth 5-5. Madi Smith had a positive night for the Bluebirds but that was about the only glimmer of light in this one. Smith started 5 for 5 from the line before missing her last three attempts; she also launched two successful threes for a total of 11 on the night.
Again tonight, the Bluebirds’ pivot feet might as well have been made by AAA, they were built for travelling. Turnovers and jittery court presence left the home team with no rhythm. With 1:50 left in the first quarter, Smith hit one from beyond the furthest set of new sound system speakers gracing the gymnasium to lead 5-4. Liz Alderfer got one FT to finish the quarter 6-4. Solomon could do no wrong in the 2nd, going on a 10-0 run with back to back treys from Kugler before Smith hit two more charities with 1:30 left. The disastrous quarter left it at 8-14 at the half.
Out of the break, Liz Schmucker dropped one in from 10 feet to close to 10-14, but the visitors again growled and went on another 10-0 run, again accompanied by back to back treys from Webb and Kugler. At 3:37, Smith gave hope with a long range bomb herself13-24 and Stepany Meyer jumped a passing lane, went the distance and rolled it in to get to 15-24 at 1:40. Down the floor the next two times, the Gorillas went “into the mist” with two more huge long range shots to ice this one down 15-30. The first play of the 4th quarter, Stuart added yet another for the biggest lead of the night 15-33. Goessel finally got an over the top pass to Meyer underneath at 6:00 17-33 and Smith put up two more charities at 19-33. In foul mode it went to 19-35 as the Gorillas missed 3 of 5 charities; Kugler fouled out at 2:14. The Bluebirds remained in a post-Christmas funk; hopefully the team will emerge with “My Best Always” in the days ahead.
Madi Smith led Goessel scorers tonight with 11, Stephany Meyer tallied 6 and Liz Schmucker notched 2 . Liz Alderfer added one charity. Also in for Goessel were: Haley O’Neal, Raechel Boese, Megan Guerrero, and Porclein Unruh . Goessel goes to 3-5 (2-2 Wheat State League) on the year.
