Solstice Warriors
Goessel Girls Varsity Basketball December 20, 2019 Peabody Burns Warriors @ Goessel
Goessel’s Lady Bluebirds began this season putting up 15 at Inman. Since that point, each game has seen this squad add to their total: 22 v. Central Christian, 26 against Burrton, and 41 in a hard fought 12/14 loss to Canton-Galva. Tonight, in a rowdy semester ending Winter Solstice (Dec 21) Wheat State League first game, the Bluebirds came to play. Scoring from seven different players, solid / aggressive defensive stances, and great board presence gave the Lady Bluebirds their first win of the young season, but showed most importantly that this group can light up the board. Junior Lizzie Schmucker put up a career high 20 to lead the home team; Junior Anna Eldridge put up 22 for the visitors. The 31-14 first half was enough to carry Goessel to a 54-37 final, their largest scoring output of the season so far.
There were Christmas sweaters of nearly every description, from Llamas to Star Wars, from golden leggings to jester caps and weird ties. Peabody has no seniors on their roster. The Bluebird mascot was in the house and the band sounded raucous. Emily Flaming led things off with a nice put-back underneath +one to start, then Porclein Unruh took it to 5-0 with a nifty lay-in finish. Family and friends are so happy that Porclein has returned to action after a huge elbow to her eye last week. Eldridge used a quick step and great penetration ability to bring it back to 5-4 but at 4:10 Schmucker set from three deep in the PB stands and schwamboozled one in from the farthest possible corner of Marion County. 8-4. Following great back and forth action Bethany Herrel hit the front end at the line, going to the bank with great gusto, then Goessel found a great give/go combo in the paint to let Schmucker loose for two more 13-6. Liz Alderfer stroked a great inbounds set in to lead 15-7 at the quarter.
Rachael Zogleman’s body language out of the break indicated she reluctantly put it up, but her shot massaged perfectly off the glass to lead 17-7. Again showing nice movement underneath, Alderfer rolled for a perfect execution and the 19-9 lead. In rhythm on defense, the Bluebirds held the Warriors in check and on offense got a nice in-pass to Herrel who was able to finish. At 3:49 Schmucker was in her spot again and this time sizzled the nylon from well beyond the confluence of the reflections of every lively Christmas ornament in the house. Down the floor again, the Junior set at the top of the circle just off the center Bluebird’s tail and buried yet another giant trey to lead 29-12. Lyna McCombs went to the line and banked her first FT in, the smothered the 2nd to go 100% from the charity stripe. Schmucker sometimes looks like she is grimacing even when she is happy, so her especially enthusiastic fist pumps sometimes look like she is in agony. To close the quarter, #21 put up a follow from 9 feet that fell into the hoop for the 31-14 lead. Goessel won the 2nd quarter 16-7.
The Warriors raced out of the chute with three quick scores against one Unruh charity to close back to 32-21, but continued steady Bluebird pressure “O” from Alderfer and Schmucker took it quickly back to 38-21. At one point, #21 hit Zogleman with what looked like a Mahomes launch to Hill, who caught it perfectly for the lay-in. Alderfer punched a follow back in to lead 42-66 after 3. Peabody showed solid in the 3rd winning 11-12. Goessel sent the Warriors to the line for 15 free throws in the 4th quarter; Peabody converted 9 of them. Meanwhile the Bluebirds got buckets from Herrel, Alderfer, Schmucker, and Unruh to keep the lead extended. Alderfer had a very pretty cavort in the lane for two and Schmucker hit her 4th three of the night to go up 50-32. Goessel found Unruh all alone underneath for a nice feed and easy finish. This one closed 54-37 for a well-earned win!
Liz Schmucker finished with a huge night, scoring every quarter, and tallied 20 including four huge treys. Liz Alderfer played stronger tonight than ever, pushing back in the paint and notching 10. Bethany Herrel made some catches and executions that in the past have bounced into the end zone; she finished with 6 as did Rachael Zogleman. Both Emily Flaming and Porclein Unruh scored 5 and Lyna McCombs added 2 off the bench; both her and Flaming were perfect from the charity stripe. Also seeing action were: Sarah Spurlin, Riley Graber, Kaleigh Guhr, and Alyssa Boden. Best wishes Bluebirds as you continue to Build the Bridge! -Karl Brubaker
