Poor shooting plagued the Goessel boys Friday in a seven-point loss to Rural Vista at Hope.

The Bluebirds shot 26 percent from the field against the Heat, but somehow kept the game close. Goessel trailed 10-14 at the end of the first period with Zach Wiens getting eight points. Goessel was behind 14-23 at halftime.

In the third quarter the Bluebirds fell behind 14-28, but then outscored the Heat 10-4 to trail 24-32 at the end of three periods. Goessel could not find the range in the fourth period, scoring only seven points as the Bluebirds left the gym with a 38-31 loss.

Connor Davis and Zach Wiens led the Bluebirds with 8 points each. Lawton Makovec hit 7 points, Lucas Hiebert 4 points, and Kellen Froese and Rhett Makovec had 2 points apiece.

Goessel will play Jan. 6 at Peabody and Jan. 9 at Pretty Prairie.

The Bluebird boys are 0-1 in the Wheat State League and 1-4 overall.