Bluebirds Fly in 2020
Goessel Guys Varsity Basketball January 7, 2020 Wakefield Bombers @ Goessel
The first time back on the court after Christmas break can sometimes be less than a work of art. Goessel won every quarter tonight against the visiting Wakefield Bombers, but with injuries to Jake Hiebert and Dylan Lindeman, it was not a night anyone on the team, coaching staff, family and fans want to hold dear to their heart. Goessel stormed to a 15-4 lead in the 1st and led 26-10 at the half. After scoring two points, Hiebert had to leave the game with a shoulder injury and late in the 3rd quarter, Lindeman also adjourned to the bench with an ankle sprain. Goessel Kingdom hopes each recover quickly. The game finished 40-19.
Lindeman sky-followed on a Jerah Schmidt miss for a bucket +1, then Hiebert put up a very pretty fake / turn-around jumper for two more. Skyler Wuest, starting tonight, slid to the bucket for two to lead 7-2. Jake Hagewood came off the bench tonight and went kamikaze on his first possession, putting up a shot off so high off the glass it scraped some paint off the Goessel water tower. To nearly everyone’s amazement the shot came out of the clouds and fell through the rim. Remote streaming observers called in to ask whether the shot had really stayed in the gym. To add to the joy, he was fouled and hit the charity for the 2nd +1 of the night. Nate Zogleman buried two free throws and Goessel actually made 100% (5 of 6)* of its charities in the first half (“asterisk” for all you math whizzes - the front end of Skyler Wuest’s two FT’s was negated for hitting the top strap support even though it actually was a made shot). A highlight alley-oop from Jerah to Dylan put the icing on the cake to close the 1st quarter. Remember that play, we’ll see it again. 15-4.
Hagewood and Wuest buried shots to start the 2nd, then Caiden Duerksen followed on the break and caught a carom from a dunk miss for two more. Great movement against the Bomber zone left Zogleman open to lead 23-8 and with time expiring Lindeman put one up from very near the center court Bluebird’s eyeball; nothing but net. Fans thought there was a foul but with two bodies on the floor it was a no-call. Goessel showed strong on defense tonight with great enthusiasm and vigor underneath. Quick hands will continue to be a huge asset against more capable teams. At halftime, fan Jenna Flaming was trumpet serenaded by band director Mr. Taylor on her birthday.
Buckets from Zogleman and Jerah Schmidt put this one at 31-10. Hagewood got credit for taking a charge deep in the 3rd. With 1:04 left after a lay in bucket, Lindeman got tangled with another player on the way out of the lane and went down with an ankle sprain. 33-18. The student section roller coaster went on its wild and crazy nightly ride between quarters, streaking along a path very nearly like Santa riding his sleigh on something psychedelic. To start the 4th, Zogleman caught a lovely in-pass on a perfect roll for two and Wuest put away one of his plentiful steals to lead 37-13. Duerksen got applause from the crowd for a swat that was last seen not on East Emma Creek but over the Black Kettle. Jerah had some fine assists tonight including to a rolling Hagewood who was hammered underneath. Krueger for Wakefield converted four straight charities on pushes into the paint; Goessel played catch on the perimeter preferring not to move into running clock. Finally, Wuest put up a shot to go to 40-17 and the game ended 40-19.
Lindeman led all scorers with 10, followed by Wuest with 9 and Zogleman with 8. Hagewood added 7 and Schmidt, Hiebert and Duerksen all collected two points apiece. Also in for Goessel tonight were: Kale Funk, Luke Wiens, Eddie Gaeddert and Dawson Stutzman. Pound the Stone!
-Karl Brubaker
