By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

The Goessel girls basketball team tuned up for the start of league play by stringing together three easy wins at home to win the Bluebird Classic.

The Bluebirds were coming off an opening-round 55-31 trouncing of Canton-Galva as they took the court Friday against Burrton.

The much taller Goessel girls dominated the game from beginning to end. The Bluebirds led at the quarters 23-2, 44-8, 57-11, and 65-18. Goessel shot above 50 percent from the field with many baskets coming from lay-ups. The Bluebirds recorded 15 steals.

Eden Hiebert followed up a 23-point game against Canton-Galva by dropping in 17 points against Burrton. Brittney Hiebert scored 13 and Marina Bidegain hit for 12.

Although Elyria Christian High School scored the first basket, the Bluebird defense created multiple points and Goessel burst to a 18-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Shots from close range allowed Goessel to enjoy a 33-13 lead at half-time of the championship game on Saturday. The Bluebird offense struggled in the third quarter, but still led 39-21. The defense again took over the game in the fourth quarter and Goessel scored 10 unanswered points when Coach Hoopes pulled the starters from the game. Goessel coasted to a 49-31 win to take the Bluebird Classic Championship medals.

Eden Hiebert led the team with 23 points followed by Booton with 10, Brittney Hiebert and Stephany Meyer with 6 each, and Abby Hannon with 4 points. The Goessel girls are now 3-1 for the season.

The Goessel boys went into Friday’s matchup with Burrton hoping to erase the sting of an opening-round 50-48 nail biting loss to Canton-Galva.

The Chargers provided even competition with the Bluebirds, as the teams were tied 6-6 at the end of the first quarter and 14-14 at halftime. Burrton took a 5-point lead in the third period, but two baskets by Dylan Lindeman got the Bluebirds as close as 26-27. Goessel missed all five free-throws in the fourth quarter and Burrton made all eight free-throws in the same quarter. Burrton advanced to the championship game with a 35-26 win.

Lindeman and Jordan Griffin each notched 12 points for the Bluebirds, down from their respective 19 and 15 against Canton-Galva.

On Saturday against Central Christian, the Bluebirds started slowly, falling behind 13-1, with the first quarter closing at 19-6. Central Christian dropped in six 3-pointers in the second quarter, expanding the lead to 45-22 at halftime. The Cougars’ lead grew to 27 points at the end of the third quarter, and the running clock began with 2:30 to play in the game. Goessel hit 6-of-8 free-throws late in the game, but Central Christian went on to win 70-43.

Jordan Griffin ended with 14 points followed by Lindeman with 12. Jayce Schmidt, Kale Funk, Nathaniel Schmucker, Nate Zogleman, Jacob Hagewood, and Zach Zogleman all got into the scoring column.

Goessel’s teams will open Wheat State League play Friday at home against Wakefield.