Girls Battle Elyria
Launch the media gallery 1 playerGoessel Girls Basketball – Elyria Christian @ Goessel – February 6, 2024
Elyria’s Addison Swenson is a key ball-handler for the Lady Eagles this season. The Junior had a huge moment tonight, finding a narrow opening in the corner for an open three at the buzzer. Goessel had staged a fantastic comeback in the final minutes going from 19-25 to knot it up from the charity stripe 25-25 on 4-4 shooting from Greta Scholle and Aimee Funk. With time running out and the Eagles out of options, Swenson set and delivered a prayer that went in to seal the 28-25 win.
These two teams met earlier this year on December 8 and Goessel prevailed 40-26. Tonight, the Bluebirds were without key Senior Cheyenne Sawyer. Goessel played solid defense and secured two 5 second calls tonight. The two Funk bun mullets were everywhere and Scholle, Logan Bryant, Jaicee Griffin, and Braylyn Hoopes challenged the Eagles at every turn on D. The Bluebirds again were challenged at the line, shooting only 50% (6-12) and could not get shots to fall from 10-12 feet. Abbigail Funk was the only Bluebird to register a three pointer on the night, late in the 3rd quarter.
There were 5 lead changes in the low scoring contest. It was 6-7 after one, and the half ended 8-11 (2-4 in the 2nd quarter on one classy steal, long toss from Scholle and finish from Abbigail Funk). Goessel prevailed in the 9-6 third quarter, with a long trey from Funk at 4:55 and the Bluebirds went up 17-13 on yet another steal and break with Abbigail feeding Aimee for the near bucket +1. Jaicee picked the interior pocket and threw and Mahomes end zone shot to Abbigail for two more, then Scholle ambled coast to coast for a great bucket after again picking the Pyle pocket. The Eagles flew back in it though, knotting it at 17-17 going into the final stanza.
At 6:41, Scholle had the play of the game, running catchup to Swenson on the break, going up with her on the layup and absolutely swatting it into the Senior parking lot. Elyria continued to find the openings, getting easy buckets and went up 19-23. With 3:36, Abbigail made a sensational foray to the hoop, was fouled, but could not convert the charities. Goessel’s Scholle was fouled on the break and did not convert the free throws, leaving it at 21-25. Tough defense yielded another opportunity on the offensive end and Scholle went up inside, was fouled, and this time hit both charities. Eagle Julia Allen fouled out with 1:07 left. Goessel fan’s were now screaming as the Bluebirds secured yet another steal, Abbigail hit Aimee on the run and she was fouled. This time Aimee’s two charities were perfect and it was knotted at 25-25 with seconds left. The Eagles went the length of the court and rotated to the east; with less than two seconds left, Swenson got loose, set and delivered a perfect corner trey for the 28-25 win.
Greta Scholle scored 10 and Abbigail Funk put up 9. Jaicee Griffin punched in 2 and Aimee Funk 4. Also in for the Bluebirds with solid minutes tonight were : Braylyn Hoopes, Logan Bryant and Alece Lehrman.
Goessel moves to 10-5 with the loss. The Bluebirds will play Wheat State rival Canton-Galva at home on Thursday, seeking to redeem an earlier 40-41 loss to those Eagles, and Herington the next night also at home in a very busy basketball week.
-Karl Brubaker
