Contributing writer
With a tough stretch of basketball games on the Goessel schedule, the Bluebird girls lost two away games this week at the hands of Argonia and Elyria Christian.
Friday’s game at Elyria produced one of the coldest nights of shooting the Bluebirds have had all season. Although the game was tied 7-7 after one quarter, fouls began to haunt key players on both teams. Page Hiebert’s basket to begin the second quarter gave Goessel a 9-7 lead. However, her team failed to hit any field goals the rest of the quarter. Fortunately, Elyria led by only three at halftime, 14-11.
Elyria scored eight straight points to open the second half. Jessica Harvey and Page Hiebert connected to pull their team as close as 22-18. But the quarter ended with Elyria leading 26-19.
Erin Brubaker and Johanna Hoffman closed out the scoring for the Bluebirds in the fourth quarter, but it was too late for a comeback. Goessel lost their first Wheat State League game 38-30.
The Bluebirds uncharacteristically shot 17 percent from the field and missed nine free throws. Scoring totals for Goessel at Elyria were Alex Hiebert 8, Harvey 7, Hoffman 6, Page Hiebert 6, Brubaker 2 and Aleena Cook 1.
Red Raiders best Bluebirds, 38 - 33
On Jan. 8, Goessel traveled to Argonia to face the state-ranked Red Raiders but came home with a loss 38-33.
The Goessel girls, now 5-4 overall and 3-1 in Wheat State League games will be at Moundridge on Friday.