Pre-Christmas Highlights
Goessel Varsity Girls Basketball - @ Peabody December 14, 2018
Goessel’s Bluebirds used a thrilling performance from Stephany Meyer to put away the Peabody Warriors at Peabody Friday December 14th. Off to a 9-0 start, the visitors kept the home team off the board the entire first quarter, but barely won the 2nd 11-10. With many points off turnovers in the 3rd stanza, Goessel ran it 16-3 and the contest closed out 39-20 with the Bluebird bench cleared. Meyer led all scorers with a season high 24, shooting inside at a 12/16 (75%) clip.
The Bluebirds were finally able to get inside at 3:56, as Meyer pushed in for two off a follow. Coach Hoopes called time at 3:20 and at 2:35 Meyer talled two more on a drive, then got another FG on a solid roll in the paint. Porclein Unruh galloped down the floor off a great steal, was fouled, but could not convert the charities. With 21 seconds left, #21 Elizabeth Schmucker set and delivered a sensational finish from beyond the Relay for Life fundraising table in the lobby to close out the all Blue quarter 9-0. The home crowd started at under 40 and gradually grew as the night wore on. Clearly, a highlight anticipated by all was the half time entertainment at the 2nd game from a large group of dancing elves.
With 7:30 left in the half the Warriors put up 4 quick points before Meyer found the hole again with a pretty dribble/drive. Off a Madi Smith long miss, Meyer socked one down. Liz Alderfer was fouled hard on the defensive boards and hit the front end of two to lead 14-4. Haley O’Neal jumped the Warrior passing lane and went coast to coast for two; Goessel continued light full court pressure against the young Warrior ball-handlers. Following her own shot in the paint, Meyer added two more to lead 18-4, but the Warriors hit four straight from the charity stripe to get back in it at 18-8. Off the break Unruh tossed over the top to a waiting Meyer 20-8, O’Neal was credited with great hustle on D and the half closed ominously as Meyer collected her 3rd personal at 1:04. 20-10. Goessel had barely eked out a win of the 2nd quarter 11-10.
The scoreboard appeared to have been festively designed for Christmas with varied colors of lights. Stephany jumped the pass on the press, then caught a nifty pass from Schmucker for two more on the break. It was Meyer hard to the hoop and Meyer in the paint, looking very adept on the offensive boards with boxing out and pulling down rebounds. Schmucker buried a long two to go up 30-12, then Meyer showed a very nice left hand finish just in front of the Bluebird cheer team. Goessel did a great job of amping up the intensity on defense tonight, with hands in the ball-handler’s face and keeping the off-ball players checked. Bethany Herrel always seems to utter a look of “did I actually do that?”
when something nice happens to her on the court. She put up two very pretty finishes, one left her hand just before the final buzzer to lead 36-13.
To the cheer team’s “mighty Bluebird beat” Goessel’s Alderfer went to the line again and hit one more charity. All subs were in at 2:38. Peabody’s Stucky continued to barrel into the lane and was fouled twice but could not convert. Herrel caught an inbound set and converted once more inside to lead 39-13. Against the Bluebird JV team, the Warriors were able to put up 7, and this one finished 39-20.
Stephany Meyer was simply unstoppable inside tonight, sliding, posting, and rolling for 24 huge points (75% from the field) and 6 (5 offensive) rebounds. Bethany Herrel had one of her best outings so far with 6 (67% FG %) and Liz Schmucker hit 5, including Goessel’s only three (Schmucker was 1 for 1 from 3FG land – team was 1 for 13). Liz Alderfer scored 2 and Haley O’Neal also finished with 2 to round out the Bluebird scoring. Goessel shot a solid 40% from the floor but only 33% from the line. Liz Alderfer pulled down 9 incredible boards for the Bluebirds. Also playing tonight were: Madison Smith with key defensive and ball-handling work, Raechel Boese, Porclein Unruh, Megan Guerrero, Rebecca Sawyer, Kayleigh Guhr, Chloe Smith, and Rachael Zogleman.
