Sub State Avail - A Charmed 4th
In their 4th meeting this year, Goessel and Little River battled it out for three quarters. In the 4th quarter, the home Bluebirds “availed” themselves of every tool in their arsenal to “put the hammer down.” Goessel did not allow a single field goal in the final 10 minutes of the game after a tumultuous 9-2 run to close the 3rd quarter. The Bluebirds won all 4 quarters tonight and swept all four meeting this year; each prior meeting had gotten progressively closer, so the prospect of tonight’s 4th contest left fans on pins and needles. Coach Hoopes delivered a halftime talk asking his team to do four things: crash the boards, battle harder, challenge, and to play the Bluebird game. Converting defenses late in the 2nd half shut down the paint and seemed to turn the tide thoroughly Blue as well. Eden Hiebert led all scorers with 21 on the night, including a huge 12 in the incredible 20-7 4th stanza. Renken and Eberle together scored 27 for Little River, mostly inside, as Goessel pulled away for the 58-38 win and earns the right to face Wheat State League rival Rural Vista in the sub-state championship Saturday evening.
This game went through 7 lead changes as Little River sought to repeat what its guys team did on Tuesday. Renken and crew beat the Goessel pressure twice to go up 0-4, the largest lead of the night for the Redskins. On a magnificent inbounds set, Brittney Hiebert caught and popped, was fouled and lollipoloozaed a giant FT arc in to regroup at 3-4. A moment later, Kara Burkholder swooshed nothing but net from baseline 15 and Goessel rolled off a nice steal, Jennifer Meysing feeding Eden for the close. Olivia Duerksen was hammered on the break and hit 1; the teams bucked back and forth, knotted at 8 until with 40 ticks left Jennifer set from a position equidistant from each of the historic Bluebird images above the scoreboards and let fly an “el magnifico” strike that rattled in and took it to 11-9. Despite losing a couple of buckets on the broken press, the ‘Birds stayed up with another Eden pitch in the paint and the quarter closed 13-12.
Goessel pulled back its backcourt pressure after Eberle and Peters took it to 13-16. On bad Bluebird turnovers, the Redskins extended it to 14-17 and Goessel looked tentative, playing not to lose. Timeout Goessel 4:27. Jennifer lit up the night with a power pump after knocking down a gorgeous 17 footer, then Brittney jettisoned a steal and followed it all the way in for two more to retake the lead. Leah Booton was effectively mugged in the paint but growled her way vertical, was fouled and hit the back end for the 19-17 lead. Brittney toasted the Redskins with yet another pretty run end to end and Little River called time at 2:58 down 21-17. Eden faced defensive mis-matches all night and found pay-dirt on an inbounds play, then Brittney found Leah rolling inside on a perfectly executed play to go up 25-20. Renken kept the ‘Skins close inside and the half ended 25-22 on an Abby Hannon drive. At the half fans were treated to numerous enthusiastic flag-wavers carrying the big G flag.
Little River went up 25-27 on several defensive lapses, but a long toss to a streaking Olivia resulted in a knotted contest and a moment later ball-handler #23 McBride was called for her 3rd and had to sit. Eden retook the lead with a nice inside push, then Wright banked a runner in and was fouled to knot at 29. Little River looked at times like their offensive strategy was taking stabs in the general direction of the bucket, throwing up baited arrows and hoping to get fouled. Mrs. B: “Does it Have to be this Close?” After that statement rolled on the jumbo-tron, Goessel went on a 9-2 run to close the quarter. Abby created huge buzz from the assembled student section with a stupendous baseline runner, was fouled and converted the FT. Her effort drew leaping fist pumps from the bench. Tonight’s student/band section was a mix of Star Wars meets Easy Rider coupled with nearly every character from the Village People. Down the floor the next time, the Junior set from 17 feet and caught nothing but nylon, bringing the crowd to a raucous cacophony of spirited output. To top off the outstanding run, Eden parsed a lateral pass and finished at the Redskin glass for two, then Kara stunned the crowd with a jaw-dropping RIP out of the LR ball-handlers hands underneath, then dribbled the length of the floor, more determined than even Josh Schmidt on a break, and closed for the dagger finish and 38-31 lead. This closing effort in the3rd from the Blue left the visitors’ body language tower of Babeled.
In traffic, Eden pounded inside for a great finish to start, then caught a North Carolina State long three miss/pass from Hannon underneath for the lay-in to go up 42-31. Fouls stood at Goessel 6 and Little River 4 ; moments later the Redskins went into the bonus but missed five consecutive times from the line to start the quarter. Jennifer and Olivia both were in and out with 4 fouls. Timeout Goessel at 5:56. Eden intercepted yet another pass out front and coasted in for two more, then Brittney fed Stephany Meyer over the top, the Sophomore caught in traffic and dolloped one in out of heavy traffic. She completed the three point play and Brittney galumphed another in off the glass. Coach Hoopes called a strategy timeout at 3:56. Now playing against what appeared to be tired ‘Skins, Goessel continued running with a Brittney finish and Peters finally hit a free throw with 3:23 left. Olivia hit the front end of two but fouled out at 2:24. Eden galloped in another two, hit two charities and the Redskins finally found the range from the charity stripe, hitting 100% of their last 7 attempts after going 0 for 9 from the line before that in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Savanna Wuest’s huge smile was priceless as she caught a low baseline pass and cavorted a beautiful 11 footer from behind the backboard plane at the buzzer for the 58-38 win. This 20-7 4th quarter was charmed as was the 4th meeting of these two teams this year.
Goessel moves to 19-3 with the win and will face 16-5 Rural Vista on Saturday in the sub-state final. Goessel just got by Rural Vista at home this year 36-35 on December 20th. That loss was Rural Vista’s only Wheat State League loss. Rural Vista barely survived their semi-final with Centre 39-38 tonight to advance. The winner of Saturday night’s contest will advance to Hays for the 1A-I state championships. The state championship field promises to be a stellar field absolutely stuffed with teams with very small numbers of losses.
Eden Hiebert put up 21 magnificent points tonight, pulled down 10 boards, notched 11 deflections and was credited with 7 steals, epitomizing “Avail” in a most nifty way. Goessel was 53% from 2FG land tonight, with excellent work in the paint. Eden's 7 steals put her over the most steals in a season in Goessel history. Eden now has 97 steals on the season for a new school record! The Bluebirds shot 60% from the line (Brittney and Stephany were at 100%). Brittney Hiebert put up 11, including several iconic moves to the bucket, had 7 deflections, and pulled down 6 boards. Abby Hannon was credited by Lucky Kidd as “most inspirational” tonight with her heroic sequence of runner, FT and jumper to ignite the 3rd quarter run. She finished with 5 on perfect (2 for 2) 2FG shooting. Jennifer Meysing, coming back from a nasty elbow/half-nelson defensive maneuver sustained in the last game, hit the Bluebirds’ only three tonight but it was a timely shot that came when needed . Jennifer also put up 5. Kara Burkholder hit two giant shots for 4 and added defensive hustle. Olivia Duerksen added 4, Stephany Meyer harrumphed in 3, Leah Booton came out huge tonight with three points and 7 rebounds, tying for the team’s defensive rebound lead with 6. Savanna Wuest added two at the buzzer.
Tonight’s Goessel crowd was magnificent. A huge shout out to the cheer team for their incredible efforts and to the band for their A-1 inspirational work. Tonight’s student section was eclectic but irrationally supportive and positive.
Avail! Let’s push through this year!
