Girls Go 5-4 vs Canton-Galva
Goessel Girls Basketball – @ Goessel v. Canton-Galva Eagles Friday January 16, 2026
Goessel’s Bluebirds will be hard pressed to sustain their season with the loss of Freshman Bella O’Neill to injury
earlier this month. Tonight’s contest sought to avenge an early 53-36 Bluebird Classic loss to Canton-Galva on
December 9 th . Even without O’Neill on Friday January 16 th , the Bluebirds put together one impressive quarter
before succumbing to the Eagle pressure in the remainder of the contest. On Biddy Ball recognition night, the
Bluebird mascot was in the house. With four ties in the first stanza, Goessel was never behind and led by as
many as five (13-8), leading 14-13 after one. Highlights for Goessel included several heads up steals, a long
corner three from Hailey Rosfeld, a perfect post roll inside by Abi Johnson, a huge swoosh trey from Mackenzie
Voth and a nifty left handed finish from Voth off the break.
Canton’s athletic Senior Trinity Espinoza put the hammer down in the 2 nd quarter, however, and the Eagles ran
off 19-3 to put this one in the January deep freeze. The only interruption came on a spectacular bounce from
Duerksen to Rosfeld for the 2 nd of only three lead changes in the contest. Despite a Goessel timeout at 5:35,
the run continued and before you could say Hoppes it was 17-32. Voth gave the Blue faithful hope, draining a
near perfect long range shot at the buzzer, but the Goessel spark from the first quarter had been worn down by
the soaring Eagle pressure, leaving it at 20-32 at halftime.
Goessel again was pushed hard on defense in the third, sending repeated Hoppes to the line. Voth found the
range at 5:10 staying at 23-36 with a near perfect set from the top of the key, then found Delaney Duerksen
open on the cut with a great long slow bounce 25-39. With time waning in the third, Abi Johnson head faked
and twirled inside for a great inside roll and the 7-13 third quarter ended 27-45. There were very few high
points in the final stanza; Isabelle Alderfer put up an outstanding block on Hoppes; subs were all in for Canton-
Galva at 2:57 and in running clock Sofia Flores went 2-2 from the line and Nivea Funk got a nifty lay in finish off
a steal to close this 4-14 quarter out at 31-59.
Mackenzie Voth led the way with 13 on the night and went 3 for 6 from three point range, (2/2 from 2 point
range) 63% from the floor, as well as 4 boards. Hailey Rosfeld stepped up tonight with 5 including a long
range trey. Delaney Duerksen put up 4 points and notched 7 boards for the Bluebirds. Abi Johnson
contributed 5 as well as 4 rebounds. Nivea Funk and Sofia Flores both finished with 2 on the night. Flores was
again perfect (2 for 2) from the charity stripe. Isabella Alderfer pulled down four boards and was credited with
the only Bluebird block on the night. Others on the floor tonight for the Bluebirds: Jayley Schmidt, Jenna
Flaming, Claire Claassen, and Hoxie Hiebert. For the visitors, Espinoza led with 17. Goessel goes to 5-4 and
Canton-Galva 8-3 on the season.
-Karl Brubaker
