Goessel Girls Reach Sub-State Finals
Goessel Girls Basketball – v Sylvan Lucas Mustangs @ Solomon – 1A Div I Sub-State - March 1, 2024
At Solomon in the sub-state semi-final contest, Goessel (14-6 - #3 seed) faced #2 seed Sylvan-Lucas (15-4). The Mustangs’ few losses this year have been by narrow margins and their wins have been huge. Coming in, the Bluebirds knew they would need to contend with bigger and stockier. Both teams had student sections decked out in “western night” gear, as if some pre-arranged signal had been given to outdo each other with outlandish almost Daisy Duke garb. The Bluebirds were the visiting team on the scoreboard in the raucous Gorilla lair. Out of the chute, it became quickly apparent that this one was going to be called extremely tightly and fans quickly made side guesses on which player would foul out first. In a hard fought contest, fans were left with a great sadness and ambivalence as Senior Emma Cline from Sylvan-Lucas suffered a catastrophic leg injury at the end of the third quarter and needed to be taken by ambulance. Thoughts and prayers for her are on everyone’s mind. For Goessel, Senior Jaicee Griffin caught an elbow in the larynx and also was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Fans also extend their thoughts and prayers to her for a quick recovery.
The initial jump ball resulted in a tie up 3 seconds in which saw a re-jump with Abbigail Funk going up against 5’11” Steinke and almost winning the tip. Goessel started off in woman to woman and the Mustangs in a 1-3-1 zone. At the 6:00 mark, Junior ball-handler Labertew slid one in underneath 0-2 and the Bluebirds could not get anything to fall until 3:43 when Aimee Funk hit the back end of 2 charities 1-4. At 2:14, Greta Scholle made the pink cowboy hats fly into the Smoky Hill as she drained one from east of Jeep Road. 4-4. There was a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on in the student section. It was back and forth the rest of the quarter, with a bullet feed from Cheyenne Sawyer to Logan Bryant underneath (what some would call the pass of the game) and a VERY LONG 2 from Aimee Funk that saw fans discussing for minutes afterwards debating whether it should have been called a three. The quarter ended up knotted at 8-8, the third tie of the contest.
The Mustangs showed aggressive on defense, but seemed to be prone to turnovers; the Bluebirds had their own challenges tonight with unforced errors. After Steinike got loose and went up 8-10, Coach Hoopes called time at 5:20; Goessel pressure in the front-court was able to create some steals and on this occasion the Bluebirds converted the steal to a nice finish from Aimee Funk to stay at 10-12. The Bluebirds sent the Mustangs to the line 15 times in the first half and the home team converted all but three attempts. Aimee was called for her 3rd at 1:51. Jaicee had to leave the game gasping for breath after getting hit in the throat. Scholle caught a nice inbounds pass and banked it in for two 12-15, but then Sylvan began to roll and pushed to the bucket, getting fouled, putting up a huge trey from Labertew and finishing the 6-15 quarter at 14-23 to close the half. Sylvan-Lucas had a deeper bench than the Bluebirds, but fouls were stacking up on both teams. March was in like a lion.
Goessel started the 3rd with a Fine Funk Foray into the paint, with Aimee hitting the front end of two 15-23. The third foul on Scholle was called at 6:00, but then a moment later the Mustang’s big girl had her third called as well. At 5:09, the crowd went bonkers as Abbigail launched one from pretty near the Russell Stover factory 18-23, then at 3:54 Logan Bryant set and found pay dirt from west of the gorilla statue in the HS parking lot. 21-25. It looked as if the Blue were ready to make a move and finally connect after a very cold start from three point land. The Mustangs’ Harley Nelson was having none of that, however, and hit a FT then a long bomb of her own to extend it to 21-29. Timeout Goessel 2:49. The Goessel cheer team led the crowd in “Up Up with Bluebird Pride” and the spell of good charity shooting from the Mustangs was broken. At the end of the quarter, Cline hit a bucket to take the Mustangs up 21-31, the largest lead of the night. Moments later, as the final seconds ticked off the clock, fans half way down the floor heard a frightening and horrible “crack” and #4 Cline went down with a terrifying leg injury. All in attendance waited as emergency personnel arrived to seek treatment for her injuries; each fan in attendance applauded to wish her the best in recovery. Goessel had staved off a Mustang run in the third 7-8 and it was 21-31 going into the final stanza. It looked as if it would take a miracle to bring this one back; after the long injury delay, each team was allowed to warm up for 4 minutes.
#13 put the Mustangs up 21-33, the largest lead of the night for the home team. It would take a Jungle miracle to see this one turn around. Greta Scholle took this team on her shoulders, leading the attack off a steal for two. In a huge sequence Goessel fed the 5’11” German exchange student underneath for the push inside +1 26-35, also putting the #4 foul on #13. Fouls stood at 4-1 Mustangs/Bluebirds at 6:36. Key in the 2nd half was the Mustang free throw machine running out of gas, as Sylvan went 3-11 in the 2nd half, a nearly 180 turn from the first half. Scholle continued to roll with a charity and an absolutely sensational three from the top of the arc, this one so deflating to the Mustang faithful that the Sylvan student section did one of their about face moves honoring the shot. 30-36. At 30-38, Cheyenne Sawyer, smothered the whole night by a personal escort, got loose for her first two of the night at 4:44, 32-38. 4:36 timeout Sylvan. It was time for the cheer team to do “Go Big Blue” and for Brooklyn to dazzle the crowd with so many flips the referee had to manually adjust his dropped jaw. Hopes dimmed, the Bluebird was sad, as Labertew drained a prayer from way downtown (almost by the electrical plant) and Aimee caught her arm on the shot, fouling out on the play. 32-40. Somehow, however, the Bluebird defense ignited and Logan Bryant dolloped in a sensational 8 footer on the baseline 34-40, then Abbigail punched one in from so far outside, fans went nearly berserk. Mr. Sawyer nearly did a back flip in the stands and the student section mini basket and rim (somehow got in past the TSA screening) did a mid air pirouette. This one closed it to within three, 37-40, and the Sylvan squad, after the demoralizing injury at the end of the third, could not remain focused on the remainder of the game. The Mustangs’ #3 Finkenbinder fouled out at 3:34 and Abbigail went to the line, converting on 3 of 4 to knot it at 40-40, only the 4th tie of the contest. This is the excitement that makes high school basketball! Labertew got 1 of 2 charities to go back up 40-41. The Mustangs appeared to be taking ill-advised shots to close out the contest, and Goessel was able to pull the boards and get fouled. Steinike fouled out in a huge touch foul at 1:46. Abbigail tied it at 41-41 and Coach Hoopes called time at 1:46 to discuss end of game strategy. “Go Go Blue and White” resounded throughout the Jungle. With 1:30 on the board, #20 was again at the line for the 4th time and this time her first shot hit the front of the rim, bounced tantalizingly…. And fell in. This was Goessel’s first lead of the game 1:30 42-41. Down the floor the next time, it was Cheyenne’s turn at the line and she also found the range on 1 of 2. 43-41. With 34 seconds left, Sylvan called timeout but could not find a way to solve the Bluebird pressure. Once more the ball went to Cheyenne and she is the one fouled; the Bluebirds’ 50% FT shooting on their last six times at the line was just enough to squeeze through. Let’s get that % up for less anxiety. It was now 44-41 and #20 Nelson fouled out with 22 seconds left. Four of the Mustang starters were thus no longer in the game. To close things out, Scholle went to the line and hit the front end and this stunning miracle quarter ended 24-10 and the game finished 45-41. Goessel had scored more in the 4th than all the other quarters combined. Tonight’s fans appeared to include the entire extras cast of the thankfully canceled Hulu series combining Yellowstone with Dukes of Hazard meets Boogie Nights. Many fans would say that one time having to see Eli or Jake or et al walk to and from the concession stand in tonight’s fan duds is something that is good for a lifetime and doesn’t need to be repeated.
Congratulations to the Lady Bluebirds for this accomplishment and for being able to be present with the reigning #1 ranked Little River team tomorrow night in the sub-state final! It is a great accomplishment to have played hard and gotten this far. It is always sad when opportunity avails itself and one ends up in a sub-state final with a dynasty. It is what it is.
Greta Scholle led Bluebird scorers tonight with a huge rally in the 4th, putting up 10 of her 16 in the monster final quarter. Greta didn’t foul out despite having a tendency to be very handsy and this referee crew didn’t like handsy. Abbigail Funk got going in the final stanza as well with 8 of her 12 in the key explosion. Funk was also key with thrilling charity work (5 of 8 in the 4th and 6 of 10 overall) as well as tremendous treys in the 3rd and 4th. Fans were very quick to praise Logan Bryant for key efforts off the bench, covering for injury, and perhaps earning ever more playing time going forward. Three key buckets for Bryant helped the Bluebirds at very important moments. The Junior finished with 7 tonight. Aimee Funk showed hustle out of the chute tonight and was called upon to provide hard nosed defensive work against taller and stouter opponents. Aimee provided important offensive stability and ball-handling and finished with 6. Senior Cheyenne Sawyer finished with a big lip and a smile, tonight held to 4 with nearly a shadow blanketing her all night; her point guard skills were extremely needed tonight and the Bluebirds miss her greatly when she is not on the floor. Jaicee Griffin left the game with an injury severe enough to seek treatment in Newton. Best wishes to Jaicee ! Also on the floor tonight for the Bluebirds giving it everything were: Braylyn Hoopes and Alece Lehrman. Joining the Bluebirds for the sub-state squad are: Hailey Rosfeld, Jayley Schmidt, Delaney Gibson, and Isabelle
Alderfer.
-Karl Brubaker
