Season Ends vs Macksville
Season Ends v. Mustangs
Goessel Girls Varsity Basketball Friday, February 25, 2022 v. Macksville Mustangs @ Goessel
On February 17th, Goessel was scheduled vs. Little River, just ahead of the KSHSAA seeding meeting for sub-state. That day turned white with all activities cancelled, including the game which was moved to Monday. Without the potential L, Goessel retained a higher seed and thus Macksville had to travel the 1 hour and 45 minute 110 mile trek to Goessel instead of the Bluebirds going west. Goessel came in to sub-state at 11-7 and Macksville 11-8. Actual records coming in to tonight show as 12-8 and 11-9. Tonight’s contest was for the dubious privilege of going up against #3 1A-Div I (KBCA) Little River (18-1) in the 2nd round of the Burrton sub-state on Friday, March 4. Goessel started slow, knotting at 2-2 on a nice Cheyenne Sawyer follow. The Bluebirds could not find any rhythm early, turning the ball over and allowing buckets underneath. Sophomore Jaicee Griffin had a nifty put back to stay at 4-10 and the Bluebirds tried putting light two woman pressure up front in the back court. With pushes inside to Lyna Lehrman, the Senior post got fouled and converted 2-4 to hold at 6-12 after one.
To start the 2nd, Goessel found Lehrman rolling on a classic inbounds set, she got hammered and swished two lovely charities; Goessel was in the 1-1 at 6:04. The Bluebirds found Lehrman open on the break for two, then Senior Rachael Zogleman popped a 12 footer that bounced way up and then back in and brought the crowd to life 12-14. Back and forth play left it at 12-18 before Senior Kaleigh Guhr was fouled and socked in two, then Griffin popped from the corner with a quick release to get back within 4, 16-20. Goessel was able to get several fine blocks tonight, but the Mustangs found just as many openings in the paint for easy points. Garcia smacked one down from deep, but a moment later Sophomore Sawyer answered with her own trey, this one causing the Blue Man to stand up and dance and the “hot dog man” to lead the assembled student section in a loud rendition of “Go Big Blue.” 19-23. This tight 13-13 quarter left it at 19-25 at the half.
The Mustangs extended to 8, their largest lead of the night, at 19-27, but at 6:39 Lehrman pushed inside and drew foul #3 on #33 Adams. Sawyer threw long over the top to a streaking Lehrman for two more and Griffin popped from the free throw line to close to 25-29. Fouls stood at 4 for each team when Sawyer found Senior Emily Flaming underneath for the great assist on the break. Goessel had improved in each quarter, winning the third 8-6 and closing to 27-31.
In the space of a minute and a half this game blew up into the hot ticket for the night. Freshman Aimee Funk caught a lateral pass, set, and launched from somewhere near the Goessel City Building. Nothing but net. The Mustangs’ Russell responded in kind, then down the floor within seconds Sawyer put up her own magnificent trey; this one caused every hat in the student section to spontaneously fly off as one. Off a spectacular steal, Goessel found Sophomore Braylyn Hoopes open on the baseline and she ran one in off the glass to take the first Bluebird lead of the night 35-34 at 6:47. The home crowd rose as one on defense, and the Blue picked off the crossing pass and went to Lehrman for the lay-in to go up 37-34 and the fans went wild. Timeout Macksville 6:19. Down the floor yet again, the Bluebirds were set to inbound when a technical foul was assessed. Hoopes was called upon but could not convert and at 3:24 Lehrman went to the line in the one and one but could not get the charity to fall. Goessel appeared to go into ball control mode up 37-34 but Russell picked off a pass and went in for the two points, was fouled but could not get the FT, leaving it at 37-36 with 1:36 left. Now in the double bonus, Mustang Senior Ibarra went to the line four times and hit three of them to retake the lead 37-39. Sawyer brought back hope for the home team with an excellent runner to tie at 39-39, but the Mustangs were able to swoosh in another runner to go up and Goessel was forced to foul, with the visitors hitting two more of four attempts to lead 39-43 at the buzzer.
Lyna Lehrman closed out her Bluebird career with 12, scoring in every quarter. Cheyenne Sawyer finished with 10, including 2 giant treys. Jaicee Griffin tallied 6, Aimee Funk put up 3 and Emily Flaming, Kaleigh Guhr, Rachael Zogleman and Braylyn Hoopes each scored 2 for Goessel. Also in for Goessel was Abbigail Funk. Also on the Bluebird roster: Logan Bryant, Riley Graber, and Brooklyn Wuest. Congratulations to Seniors Emily Flaming, Kaleigh Guhr, Lyna Lehrman and Rachael Zogleman and thank you for the many ways you have strengthened Bluebird basketball during your years here! Thanks again to Coaches Ryan Hoopes and Olivia Duerksen!
-Karl Brubaker
