Senior Night 2019
Goessel’s Lady Bluebird Seniors were recognized tonight along with their parents. Players and parents from all other grades were also recognized separately. Seniors Haley O’Neal, Madison Smith, Stephany Meyer, Megan Guerrero, and Rebecca Sawyer have all made significant contributions to many Bluebird activities and athletics and to the Lady Bluebird basketball team. Congratulations to these fine young women and best wishes in whatever steps are next in your lives.
It’s been a topsy-turvy year in local KSHSAA school classifications. Long term fans inevitably appear puzzled when they are told that in 18-19 Goessel and Hillsboro are 2A and Berean , Moundridge, and Little River are 1A. Making the equation even more interesting is that the afore-mentioned Berean, Moundridge and Little River teams will appear in the “re-instated” regional/sub-state 1A structure competing together at the Moundridge Regional. It looks now as if the Goessel teams may both be starting in sub-state at Allen-Northern Heights at their location, possibly on the same night.
Tonight Goessel’s Lady Bluebirds took on long term Heart of America rival Berean Academy. As in many outings this year, the Blue had spurts of glory but were undone by ball-handling woes against a savvy defense. To start. Liz Schmucker tossed one up that nearly dusted some snow off the roof, but saw it fall cleanly through the nylon to knot at 2. Moments later, Madi Smith laced a perfect bullet to Stephany Meyer in the lane for two and Goessel showed really solid at the defensive end. Smith pushed inside, was hammered, and got the front end of two charities for the only Bluebird lead of the night 5-4. Defensive pressure from the Warriors took over the contest and after one quarter, it was 6-16. 90% of the Warrior scoring tonight was inside three feet on transition buckets on breaks or steals.
Meyer was called for her 3rd personal at 6:39 in the 2nd quarter and had to sit. On a nice break at 5:40 Schmucker took it to 8-25 after a 0-9 Warrior run to start the quarter. Again with nearly perfect zone defense, Goessel kept the Warrior inside game at bay, allowing only 2 points the rest of the quarter. The Warriors did not find the outside shooting range at all in the first half. Smith hit two for two from the line to close the half 10-27.
Out of the break, the Bluebirds shone brightly, with Meyer ignited for 10 points on everything from delightful roll patterns, forays in the paint, to a pivot fake inside. The 14-14 quarter was a bright light for Meyer on Senior Night. Schmucker and Smith also added two buckets. Unfortunately, the Warriors scored at will in this one as well, at one point going on a virtually uncontested 8-0 run.
In the 4th Meyer notched a great drive to the bucket at 3:20, then caught another laser sharp in-pass from Smith to take it to 28-50. To close the contest Chloe Smith hit a pretty jumper at the buzzer to leave it at 30-50.
Meyer finished with 17 to lead all scorers. Liz Schmucker had a bucket in three different quarters for 6. Madi Smith went 3 for 4 from the line and scored a total of 5 and Chloe Smith hit at the buzzer for 2. Also in for Goessel were: Liz Alderfer, Raechel Boese, Kaleigh Guhr, Rebecca Sawyer, Porclein Unruh, Racheal Zogleman and Bethany Herrel.
-Karl Brubaker
