Goessel succumbs to Little River
Staff writer
Both Goessel teams closed out their regular seasons Monday with losses.
Boys
Monday’s game with Little River turned out to be a barn-burner.
Goessel got off to a tremendously slow start, scoring only two points in the first quarter and trailing by 13.
Noah Schrag came off the bench and put some spark into the Bluebird offense with seven points. Goessel crept within five points but then allowed Little River to score 10 consecutive points. The Bluebirds trailed 31-16 at halftime.
Goessel started the third quarter with the intensity to cut into their deficit.
Caiden Duerksen and Caleb Burkholder did all the scoring for the Bluebirds in the third quarter and Goessel trailed, 39-31.
After two baskets by Timothy Schrag, the Bluebirds began warming up from long range. Skyler Wuest matched a Little River three-pointer. Duerksen hit a three from the left corner. Wuest banked in a high percentage shot. Noah Schrag dropped a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Duerksen muscled in a basket from the baseline and was fouled. A missed free-throw would have tied the game with 57 seconds to play.
Instead, Little River made two free-throws. The Bluebirds had a chance to tie with a three-pointer, but the shot was partially blocked, and Little River converted two more free throws to end the game with a 53-48 victory.
Caiden Duerksen led the Bluebirds in scoring with 19. Noah Schrag had 10.
The boys finished fourth in the Wheat State League with a 6-3 record. Their season record so far is 13-6. They will be at home for the first game of the sub-state tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday against Burrton.
Girls
Little River’s tall, athletic team dominated the Wheat State League this year, and Goessel was on the short end of the score on Monday night.
The Bluebirds managed only two points in the first quarter and four points in the second, trailing 38-6 at halftime.
Braylyn Hoops hit two three-pointers in the third quarter, but Goessel still trailed 50-15 going into the final period, losing by a final score 56-20.
Hooes led the team in scoring with eight. No other Bluebird scored more than three.
Goessel finished fourth in the Wheat State League, with a record of 4-4. The Bluebirds’ overall record is now 11-8. They s will be at home for the first round of the sub-state tournament starting at 6 p.m. Friday with Macksville.