Bluebirds Roll in Regular Season Finale
Goessel Varsity Guys Basketball - v. Canton-Galva @ Canton February 19, 2019
“Work” is this year’s theme and Goessel’s men showed the pure definition tonight at Canton: “Physical and mental activity or effort directed toward the accomplishment of something.” This was a fitting regular season finale as the Bluebirds look toward putting the same effort on the floor in the first round of 2A sub-state v. Allen-Northern Heights. In a contest bumped to 4:30 pm due to the impending snow, the guys followed a great overtime effort by the girls. Behind only once in this one 0-2, at 4:28 the Blue Burner got turned on with a giant trey from Dylan Lindeman from beyond Lucky Kidd’s announcing booth. Goessel ran it to 20-4 at the 1st quarter buzzer and never looked back, showing great “team work” and finishing 59-44 behind scoring from seven different players.
The Bluebirds defeated the Canton-Galva squad December 8th, 2018 41-32, but that seems an eternity ago. During the post-Christmas early January “dark” period, the Eagles upended the Blue 34-40 on January 11th, 2019 in one of this year’s contests all would wish not to remember. Goessel’s squad has seen glimpses of its potential in three games at the Burrton tourney, vs. Wichita Classical, etc. but has had some of the most difficult games in memory against Little River and Berean. Tonight’s effort against the Eagles in the third meeting of the season played well in buoying hopes for yet another day for this year’s squad.
Out of the chute and in rhythm after a touch and go start, Dylan’s magnificent three at 4:28 lit the “Blue Burner” fire. Drew followed his own miss, pushed hard and got 2, then at 3:21 Dylan skated into the paint, went up strong and finished +1. Coach Duncan called time at 3:21 after the 8-0 run, but could not slow things down. Jake Hiebert went up strong on the offensive boards, pulled it down, and went right back up, then Jerah picked off an Eagle pass and coasted in to lead 12-2. Timeout Eagles 2:05. Off the bench, Skyler Wuest was not deterred and skewered the defense for two. Dylan had a tremendous stop, forayed long and went hard to the hoop in sidewinder swashbuckler fashion and collected foul number 2 on 6’1” Freshman Struber. To close the quarter, Jake Hiebert put a long three up that bounced way, way up, got caught in the blizzard and came back down, falling perfectly into the waiting hoop to lead 20-4 at the quarter. It was a stunning start to a very hearty night with the snow falling outside.
Canton-Galva tried to shake loose with front court pressure, but Goessel was able to handle it and Zogleman laced one into a waiting Wuest underneath for a great finish 22-6. With Jake Hiebert and Drew on the bench, Dylan bounced again perfectly to Wuest for yet another “basketball move,” but the Eagles began to get their wings, patiently executing and taking it back to 24-12 . Hiebert and Lindeman were back in and Coach Guhr took a timeout at 3:58 to discuss; Hagewood put up an Energizer Bunny effort off the glass and Drew made one of several huge defensive stops, this time swatting it into the next zip code. The Eagles kept punching it (9-18 quarter) and closed to 29-22 with efforts from Collins and Struber. Tonight’s officials had to calm Coach Guhr down several times as it seemed at times like they had mistaken their assignment tonight as a Mixed Martial Arts meet and Coach Guhr was pretty sure this was a basketball friendly. Coach’s efforts at convincing the crew of their assignment perhaps eventually were heard ???
The third quarter will shine as a bright star in the Bluebirds’ 18-19 campaign. Every regular on the team scored and things looked immaculate; when asked what motivated during the half time huddle together, Coach Guhr indicated that the team “heard the message.” Drew pummeled a gorgeous in-pass to Dylan, got another huge block, then faked left and rolled right for a sumptuous finish. Zach Zogleman let two Eagles fly past with a great ball fake to lead 35-22 and Canton was forced to call time again at 6:14 with the scoreboard spinning like a Vegas slot machine. Drew waited again for two Eagle defenders to jump past, then put it up and got fouled underneath as well. Hagewood stopped and popped from 12, Hiebert grabbed a board, took off and finished to lead 41-22. Timeout Canton just as in the 1st quarter 3:44. Goessel’s cheer team led “the Mighty Bluebird Beat” and Ballesta no-looked to Wuest who popped it from 8 feet out. At 2:24 Pierson hit the first field goal of the half for the Eagles to take it to 43-24, then Miguel slalomed coast to coast for two more, followed by a nifty head fake and finish the next time down the floor. Epitomizing the great “team” work effort tonight, Dylan side-armed to Wuest on the break and #25 finished in grand style 50-26. The third quarter tally of 21-6 was one of the most balanced, well-played, team-oriented unselfish efforts the Bluebirds have displayed all year.
At 50-28, this one looked safe, but there have been sour moments in particular quarters this year. Dylan created space with a drive to lead 53-31, then found Drew #33 in the middle for two more to go 55-33. The Eagles were not going to go away and put on the full court defensive net and at 3:48 closed to within 19, 55-36 with treys from Everett. Miguel got two on a great Euro step, but the refs again denied his effort. It closed to 55-39 before Hagewood nailed 2-2 from the line and got another nice jumper. Struber typified the night for the home team, attempting to dunk in the closing minutes and just like K-State’s Mawien (4 missed dunks in latest game), this one caromed up and out into the hands of a waiting Lindeman. Goessel lost the 2nd quarter 9-18 and the 4th quarter 9-16 tonight, but with the huge 20-4 1st and 21-6 3rd put this one away 59-44.
Goessel went a big-time 68% from 2 point range tonight (Dylan was 5 for 5) but could have extended the win ever further with some good fortune from beyond the arc. Goessel recorded 12 steals and 12 assists on the night while committing 15 turnovers. It was absolutely great to see 8 different players in the book tonight. Dylan Lindeman led Goessel, scoring 12 in the first half and a total of 17 and pulled down 6 defensive boards. Skyler Wuest earned acclaim with a great showing all over the floor and 11 points. Drew Lindeman and Jake Hagewood each tallied 8 and Jake Hiebert 7. Lindeman was credited with three huge blocks and Hiebert tallied a giant 4 offensive boards. Miguel Ballesta 4 and Zach Zogleman + Jerah Schmidt each hit for 2 for the Bluebirds. Also playing were Nate Zogleman, Kale Funk. Lucas Wiens, and Eddie Gaeddert. Congratulations to the Bluebirds for turning on the Blue Burner and for a great final regular season effort.
Best wishes at sub-state! Work!
-Karl Brubaker
