Goessel vs Canton Bluebird Classic
Goessel Basketball – Goessel Bluebird Classic – December 4, 2023
In the first day of the week long odyssey that is the Goessel Bluebird Classic Basketball Tournament, the Goessel Bluebird guys put together a 2nd half marvel. Down 25-30 at the half, something ignited this squad and despite playing against a Canton-Galva team that platooned frequently, showed stamina that would not quit in the 3rd and 4th. Each player on the floor stepped up tonight in a turn-around that would make any coach proud. A 15-6 defensive shutdown in the 3rd quarter and a wide open slugfest in the 4th quarter kept fans who stayed up until 11:00 pm well entertained. Goessel’s Noah Schrag put up 20 to lead all scorers, but contributions came from all over the roster on the boards and on defense tonight. Goessel advances into the week with a 57-50 W.
This one looked strong out of the chute, with perfect feeds to a streaking Javin Schmidt and Jake Flaming to start. Noah Schrag bagged four charities, shooting 4/5 after being fouled on a trey attempt at 3:53. At 2:39, #4 bagged another trey so smooth the Bluebird in the middle of the floor winked. Chevy Gagnon put in some great minutes tonight including a baseline jumper that looked straight out of the Big 12. On a break late in the quarter, Chevy had it going but lost control and ended up shimmering on the floor like a northern pike just pulled out of a frozen Minnesota lake. To close the first, Schrag set and delivered in front of the student section, calling the bank to leave it at 16-10 after one. There was almost a Lambeau leap to celebrate the long three.
Canton-Galva got their rhythm in the 2nd with back to back threes to take their largest lead of the night 18-28. Goessel timeout. Pushing hard against the Eagle full court pressure, Goessel ignited for a huge break with Schrag finding the bucket +1 and Nickel back in to go to 21-28. It felt like a turning point, with the Eagles falling back on their heels after the big start. At 2:10 #4 found Koy Smith underneath with a Mahomes strike for 27 yards, a perfect feed and 23-28. Goessel got a 5 second call on an Eagle inbounds play and as the quarter faded to a close Smith found a perfect in-pass to Nickel and the 9-20 quarter closed back in Goessel rhythm 25-30.
In one sense, the 3rd quarter played like a dream, on the other a nightmare. Hard nosed defense, rebounding and coming away from most scrums with the ball were positives, 2 for 14 from the line will keep you awake at night. Despite the incredible charity challenge, the Bluebirds won this one 15-6, nearly keeping the Eagles out of the FG column. Sandwiched between a front end putback and a quarter ending steal / lay-in there were no other Eagle field goals. Eli Boden was fouled three times between 7:22 and 6:55, going to the line all three times and nearly single-handedly putting the Eagle bigs on the bench with foul trouble. Wyatt Collins sat with 4 at 6:00. Nickel had a nice roll inside then Schmidt launched one from way beyond the Museum complex to come back to 30-33. At 31-33, at 4:20 Noah pushed hard into the lane and went flying with two Eagles to the floor; Birds and hardwood = blood. After a few anxious moments, he was bandaged up and, amazingly, to all in attendance, returned a minute later. At 3:10 Koy Smith rolled right side and hit a huge banking runner, then Schrag was fouled on a beautiful back door at 2:42. Goessel’s faithful went wild when Gagnon took an in-pass, turned in the lane and again dropped a smooth as silk pop in the paint. 35-33, the 2nd and last lead change of the game. It would be back and forth as both teams struggled from the line, but Goessel was on a roll with excellent looks; the 15-6 quarter ended with a terrific bounce back door to Smith to stay at 40-36.
Eli Boden went hard to the bucket and put up two, then Schrag fed Nickel long again, Javin picked the pocket of the point guard and at 4:02 it was 48-38. At 3:30 Noah lit up the night with a three so terrific, Goessel shooting alumni from the past all appeared as a group on the jumbo-tron and, as one, all went crazy. Schrag next caught a perfect bounce feed underneath from Jake for two more, the biggest lead of the night 53-41. The Eagles were not done, interspersing threes with time outs to come back to 55-49, but at 55-50 could only hit 1 of 4 charities. Jake Flaming fouled out at :47 and Layton Witte of the Eagles fouled out at :42. Jack had an incredible foray to the bucket; it was quickly evident that no one was going to get in his way. Noah was called for a charge at :40, unfortunately unnecessary. On the next possession, the Eagles fouled #4 and two charities were missed but somehow Goessel got the rebound and this time when Schrag was fouled he converted to lead 57-50. At the buzzer, McMannis tapped in a follow to leave the final at 57-52.
The 32-22 2nd half is a reminder to fans who may have gone to bed after the first half that this team has some deep resilience and may surprise people . Noah Schrag led all scorers with 20, went 7 for 12 from the line and had three treys. Jack Nickel had a tremendous night, scoring 12 with many huge defensive boards, acting as an incredible inbounds man and on the press-break, and has improved immensely in the paint as a post. Koy Smith handled the ball well for Goessel, gave strength inside on the boards and helps this Bluebird squad get down the floor quickly. Smith finished with 10. Javin Schmidt scored 5 including a huge trey, Chevy Gagnon contributed hard nosed effort inside and notched 4 points, Jake Flaming with 3 and Eli Boden 3. Eli Boden was credited with incredible effort tonight, showing fullback in a world of wide receivers. Coaching for Goessel in 2023-2024 are Curtis Guhr and Gerard Dunne.
-Karl Brubaker
