Contributing writer
Tournament play proved trying for the Goessel High School boys’ basketball team as they won one and lost two last week at the Burrton Tournament.
The Bluebirds started the week with a gut-check loss on Jan. 14 to Berean Academy, 37-34.
The Berean Warriors came from behind to nip the Goessel Bluebirds in the fourth quarter, even though the Birds put forth a balanced scoring effort.
Goessel jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first quarter with Ben Wiens getting five points, Reece Hiebert hitting two points, and Shane Goerzen working the arc for a last second three-point shot.
The Warriors got within one point in the second quarter, but Goessel went on a 7-1 run and finished the quarter ahead, 21-14. Trey Schmidt hit a three-pointer, and Nic Buller and Wiens scored high percentage shots in the lane.
A defensive battle ensued, and neither team scored at will. Davis Cook gave the Bluebirds a 23-14 lead with two points, but Berean scored eight straight points to get within one. Goerzen hit another three-pointer, but a Warrior matched his effort; and the third quarter ended with Goessel ahead by one, 26-25.
Cook hit his first three-pointer of the season in the fourth quarter, but Berean took a 31-29 lead. It was back and forth the rest of the game.
Buller tied the game with free throws, and Zach Showalter hit a bucket to give the Bluebirds a 33-31 lead. Goessel had two obstructed drives to the bucket in the last 29 seconds but could not convert. The Bluebirds sent Berean to the free-throw line and the Warriors won the game, 37-34.
Wiens led balanced team scoring with seven points and seven rebounds. Shane Goerzen, Trey Schmidt, and Nic Buller each scored six points. Davis Cook added five points; Reece Hiebert and Showalter each scored two points.
Goessel 56 Burrton 50
Goerzen led the Bluebirds to a 56-50 win over Burrton on Jan. 17, scoring a personal high for the season 12 points.
Goessel jumped out to a 21-6 lead at the end of one quarter. Senior center Cook got into foul trouble, but the rest of the team contributed in scoring and rebounding.
Goessel maintained an eight-point lead at the end of three quarters, despite constant pressure from the Chargers as they nibbled their way back into the game.
The Bluebirds prevailed to win, 56-50.
Schmidt augmented Goerzen’s high-point total of 12 with 11 points, and Buller had 9 points to go along with nine rebounds. Wiens scored 9 points, all from the free-throw line, and Cook added 8 points, Reece Hiebert 4, and Showalter 3.
Central Christian 60 Goessel 40
The Goessel boys played for fifth place in the tournament on Jan. 19 against Central Christian. Cook scored the first seven points for the Bluebirds and they took a 7-6 lead.
Schmidt matched a Cougar three pointer and Wiens hit a free throw to give Goessel their last lead in the game, 11-10. Central Christian led at the end of one quarter, 14-12.
Buller hit from inside the three-point circle and Shane Goerzen banked a high arching layup over the outstretched arms of the Cougar’s tallest player to tie the game 16-16. Then Central went on a 17-3 run and took a 33-19 lead into halftime.
Buller, Cook, and Schmidt scored nine points to bring the Bluebirds as close as 28-37, but the Cougars went on a spurt and ended the third quarter with Central ahead 49-30.
In the fourth period, the Bluebirds were unable to keep the deficit below 20 points and they lost the contest, 40-60.
Goessel ended the week with an overall record of 7-5 and play a non-league game Friday at Moundridge.