Season Opener Thrills vs Marion
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Goessel Girls Basketball – @ Goessel v. Marion Warriors Friday December 5, 2025
Goessel’s Lady Bluebirds began the long 25-26 campaign with a Friday night contest against cross county 2A
rival Marion. With several new rule changes coming into effect this year, the 25-26 year looks like a chance to
build and improve; the Wheat State League again appears to be dominated by Little River but developing young
players will learn a lot working together. Tonight, Goessel would need to hold Marion’s Junior ball handler
Dylan Kraus in check and identify who are going to be the “go to” offensive threats for the Blue. This game
gave spectators everything they might want from a December opener: Nine lead changes, seven ties and
overtime with thrilling moments from both squads.
Coach Ryan Hoopes called time down 0-4 at 6:57 and the team responded with Sophomore Delaney Duerksen
banking one in off the drive, then Junior Abigail Johnson caught a bounce feed from Duerksen to knot at 4-4.
Freshman Bella O’Neill punched a steal and was fouled on the break and Goessel went up 5-4, the first lead of
the new season. Goessel stayed in woman to woman nearly the entire contest while Marion stuck mostly to a
2-1-2 zone. Goessel was able to create turnovers on half court trapping pressure and quick hands, got a nifty
finish from Freshman ball handler Mackenzie Voth and it was back and forth, with Marion’s Kate Wessel finding
the hoop at the buzzer to go up 10-11 after one.
Already the 4 th lead change of the night, Goessel went up 12-11 at 6:20 on a nearly perfect inbounds set to
Junior Isabelle Alderfer inside. The Warriors went on a 6-0 run to 12-17 and Goessel called time at 4:36, the
largest Marion lead of the night. At exactly 3:33, #3 Voth set in the corner very close to Kendall V’s 3rd toe and
delivered a scintillating three so crisp and perfect, fans in Section 3 stood as one and did a spontaneous
“wave.” Marion went 6/12 from the line the first half, as the Bluebirds accumulated a full slate of fouls. Key
Bluebird Duerksen spent most of the 2 nd quarter on the bench with two fouls. Alderfer went hard to the hoop
late in the quarter but could not convert. Goessel was 2 for 6 from the stripe the first half. With 33 seconds
left, O’Neill put one up from very near the percussion section that wiggled and jiggled in, knotting for the sixth
time at 18-18. Alderfer attempted a half court bomb but “missed it by that much.” Goessel won this quarter
8-7.
One of tonight’s officials appeared to forget his whistle in the dressing room and the start of the 2 nd half faced a
“TV timeout” while he located his equipment. Tonight’s game was broadcast enthusiastically as the “area
game of the week” by 96.7 . The Bluebirds appeared motivated and put on an excellent defensive effort to
start the 2 nd half. Johnson pushed hard inside for two, then Voth found paydirt on a skittering skirmish ‘mid
several taller towers. 22-18. On several nice forays down the floor, Goessel was able to convert: Duerksen
swished from 10 feet to lead 24-20 and then Johnson finessed one off the glass to lead 26-20. Moments later
Duerksen was called for her third personal foul and had to sit. Goessel called time at 3:03 up 26-23. Many
tussles later, Voth went to the line for two, could not convert, but the next time down the floor absolutely
buried one from so far back her brother nearly fainted in the stands. The Bluebirds brought the ball down with
less than 5 seconds left and inexplicably O’Neill was fouled just south of the scorer’s table with 0.1 remaining.
She went to the line and hit 2 out of 3 to go up 31-25 in the solid 13-7 quarter.
In the 4 th , Duerksen pulled a board and went coast to coast with a chance for three. At 6:25, she found the
range from very near the wonderful inspirational pictures outside Mrs. D’s classroom for one of Goessel’s
largest leads of the night 36-29. Senior Hailey Harshman for Marion found two key buckets to stay close;
Marion Senior Ensley was called for her 4 th and the fouls stood at Marion 4, Goessel 1 at 4:30. At 38-36 in a key
sequence, inside Marion Junior Kate Wessel was called for her 5 th personal (3:47). Duerksen was back in with 4
fouls at 3:14 and was called for her 5 th foul pursuing a Marion steal at 2:54. Goessel had a chance to go up
with Johnson at the line twice, but she could not convert and it remained knotted at 38-38. With 1:29
remaining, Marion found an opening and laid it in to go up 38-40. Three timeouts later, Marion somehow sent
a pass from the right wing askew and the Warriors were called for “over and back.” Voth went hard to the
hoop and was fouled. She missed her first FT, but the Warriors were called for a violation and she was allowed
two more charity attempts. With 13 ticks left Voth converted on both to knot at 40-40. After another Marion
turnover, Goessel had yet another chance to put up a long buzzer beater but Voth’s effort from the mid-court
Bluebird beak clanged off the iron. Overtime! The Bluebirds escaped the loss after the Warriors’ 11-2 run at
the end of the game. It is great to hear the Goessel band again and the cheer team led all in attendance in
“Up Up On Your Feet” to inspire a great 4 minutes of overtime play.
Again, the Bluebirds put on a powerful defensive effort, containing the Warrior offense. In a moment when
Marion went to man to man, Goessel ran “Money” and Voth was fouled on the layup to lead 41-40. Down the
floor, nearly every Bluebird fan in attendance “made the call” very loudly on a travel “ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”
that needed no New York review. After two more back and forth sorties, Johnson picked off a Warrior pass
and would not slow down, going unstoppable to the hoop for a thrilling finish and the play of the night. 43-40.
Kraus pasted two free throws, but Goessel showed great poise working inside to Alderfer off an inbounds play
to lead 45-42. With 33 seconds left, #3 caught a carom, put her head down, and went the full distance for a
spectacular finish. Marion went to their go-to ball-handler Kraus for two more but the clock was running out
47-44. With 5.2 seconds left, Alderfer went to the line, the radio announcer indicated on the air that “she can
put this on ice hitting one” which she immediately did, the second caromed off and Marion was unable to
convert at the other end. The 8-4 overtime period left this one at 48-44. Congratulations to the Lady
Bluebirds for a great start to this new season!
Ball handler Mackenzie Voth scored in every quarter tonight, put up two huge threes and finished with 15.
Goessel can count on her to carry the team through heavy waters. Bella O’Neill and Delaney Duerksen will be
key elements on offense and defense for this year’s Bluebird squad and both had 9 tonight. Abigail Johnson’s
inside play will be the “X” factor for the Lady Bluebirds as she brings a never say die fight to this group.
Johnson had 8 including a key bucket in overtime. Matching Johnson’s spirit underneath, Isabelle Alderfer
also is one who will stubbornly refuse to yield to bigger, faster players and will also be key for Goessel’s
success. Alderfer had three in overtime and finished with 5 tonight. Senior Hailey Rosfeld gave the Bluebirds
their biggest lead of the night tonight going 2 for 2 from the line, the only perfection experienced from the
charity stripe. Also contributing tonight were: Freshman Sofia Flores, Junior Jayley Schmidt, Junior Jenna
Flaming and Sophomore Claire Claassen.
Goessel is coached by Ryan Hoopes assisted by Olivia Duerksen. Managers are: Isabelle Eckert, Elaina Graber,
Lydia Dick, Lauren Wonders, and Lara Unger. Cheerleaders are: Aida Hartvickson, Emilia Unruh, Elly Mai,
Janessa Garcia, Nikki Haney, Abby Heller, Emma Wappler, Claire Claassen, Emily Tyler, Lydia Rodeman, and
Rosie Gaeddert.
-Karl Brubaker
