Pandemic forces county teams to struggle with tough schedules 

Victories were hard to come by for county schools this week as they closed out January.

Earlier strikes from Covid-19 that canceled games made it a busier week as some teams struggled to catch up.

Marion girls and Hillsboro boys each played three games while the Marion boys and Hillsboro girls played two. 

The Trojans were the only ones to net victories throughout the week with both the Peabody boys and Marion struggling. 

The Marion girls were fresh off capturing their first win of the season crushing Solomon, but it was short lived with the Warriors finding themselves in a three-game slide. 

A second victory was within reach Thursday night against the visiting Bennington Bulldogs, but the Warriors lost hold of a 26-12 halftime lead and tumbled in a 47-39 overtime heart-wrencher. 

Marion took to the road Friday, but found no comfort in Council Grove as the Braves sunk the Warriors to 1-11 on the year with a 54-37 win. 

Marion High’s boys fared no better as they lost their fourth consecutive game after winning three straight. 

The Warriors fell to 4-10 overall, stumbling in a home contest Thursday against Bennington, 77-68, and Friday at Douglass, 74-50. 

The Peabody-Burns Warriors record was mixed this week as they lost to Chase County 65-30 but scored a 68-53 win Friday against Centre High during homecoming.

The Hillsboro girls steamrolled their way into Class 2A’s top-five, capping a 2-0 week Thursday night dispatching visiting Lyons, 56-18. 

Teegan Werth scored a game-high 17 points as the Trojans forced 20 Lions’ turnovers and yielded a paltry 14 percent shooting from the field. 

The Hillsboro boys stayed red hot, picking up their 10-straight win Saturday, hosting a team they had to find a game against, the Remington Broncos. 

The Broncos posed little threat, trailing as many as 30, before pulling to a 59-32 final in which the Trojans utilized their full bench to up their record to 10-2. 

Frank Wichert scored a game-high 14 points and pulled down a game-best 7 offensive rebounds to fuel the Trojans. 

  The Trojans picked up their ninth win of the season Thursday, crushing the visiting Halstead Dragons, 69-23. 

Centre teams continue to struggle after a late start to the basketball season. They each played three games last week.

The Cougars had their best game so far Friday at Peabody, according to coach Richard Idleman. Although they lost, 68-53, they shot 36.8 percent from the floor and 61.5 percent from the free throw line.

Lane Methvin scored 18 points, had nine rebounds, and made all three of his free-throw attempts.

Other scorers were Mikey Silhan, 12 points; Santiago Knepp, 9; Luke Hudson, 8; and Gentri Holub, 6.

“We started so far behind everyone else that we are not on the same level conditioning-wise,” Idleman said. “We’re a young team, and it’s tough to learn basketball as young and inexperienced as they are. They are showing heart. I tell them, keep fighting and we will turn the ship around.”

Centre lost to Elyria, 46-17, in a home game Saturday.

The girls’ team got their second victory of the season last Tuesday at Wichita Classic in Wichita.

They put up a good fight Friday against Rural Vista at home but fell off in the fourth quarter to lose, 45-29.

They played Elyria at home Saturday, tying the Eagles late into the third quarter. They ran out of steam in the fourth quarter and lost, 38-27.

Friday afternoon saw the Goessel girls taking on Burrton for the second time this season. Goessel lost this game at the Fairfield tournament, 43-33.

The Bluebirds led at the first quarter 10-8, but Burrton went on ten point run and led at half-time 21-17. Goessel regained the lead in the third quarter with two buckets by Lyna Lehrman and a set shot from Rachael Zogleman, but the Chargers grabbed the lead at the end of three quarters 27-25.

Elizabeth Schmucker opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to again take the lead, but from that point the Chargers gradually outscored the Bluebirds to win by 10 points.

Elizabeth Schmucker hit 9 points, Lyna Lehrman 8, Rachael Zogleman hit her high for the season with 6 points, Cheyenne Sawyer 3, Bethany Herrel 3, Sarah Spurlin 2 and Braylyn Hoopes 2.

On Tuesday evening, Goessel jumped out to a 19-11 half-time lead against Macksville.

Kaleigh Guhr and Elizabeth Schmucker each hit their second three pointer as the half closed.

The Mustangs put on a full court press in the second half and forced nine Bluebird turnovers in the third quarter but Goessel still led 26-25. The fourth quarter was back and forth, with the lead changing seven times in the final quarter. Goessel lost by a final score 43-38.

Kaleigh Guhr (12 pts), Lyna Lehrman (8 pts) and Sarah Spurlin (4) each hit a season high in this game. Other scoring: Bethany Herrel 8 and Elizabeth Schmucker 6.

The Bluebird girls are 3-8 for the season and 0-3 in League games.

Goessel boys succumb to wildcats

The Goessel boys played one game this week and lost to Moundridge by a final score 52-41.

Six points by Skyler Wuest and four points from Nate Zogleman kept pace with Moundridge as the first quarter ended in a 10-10 tie. After falling behind by five points in the second period, Dawson Stutzman, Zogleman and Caiden Duerksen unleashed eight consecutive points and the score was still tied 20-20 at half- time.

The Wildcats went on a tear in the third quarter, outscoring the Bluebirds 17-6. Moundridge built a14 point lead in the fourth quarter, but the game ended 52-41.

Scoring for the Bluebirds: Nate Zogleman 13, Skyler Wuest 12, Dawson Stutzman 7, Caiden Deurksen 6 and Jacob Schrag 3.

The Goessel boys are now 7-5 for the season and 3-0 in Wheat State League games.

The Goessel teams are scheduled to play league games this week, at home with Centre on Tuesday and at Elyria on Friday