Contributing writer
As basketball teams begin adjusting to the rules about less contact, many teams experience a lot of time with the starters on the bench in foul trouble. Ben Wiens, a senior at Goessel high School, found himself on the floor for a lot of minutes in the away game at Inman on Friday. He made the most of those minutes, scoring 28 points in the first game of the season, hitting seven two-pointers, one three-pointer, and 11 free-throws.
Goessel fell behind 8-2 but played tough from that point, with the first quarter ending with Inman ahead 13-8. Wiens and Lawton Makovec provided much of the scoring in the early part of the game. Kellen Froese got the Bluebirds within one point with a three-pointer. Makovec went down with an ankle injury and Inman closed out the first half gaining a 21-16 lead.
Wiens and Froese hit several baskets early in the third quarter to take a 24-23 lead. The Teutons responded with a 13-4 spurt to end the third period with a lead of 36-28. With foul problems mounting for both sides, Inman opened up a 17-point lead.
Again Froese and Wiens found the basket and Goessel went on a 11-2 run getting as close as 47-39. Reece Hiebert hit a jumper and Wiens hit a couple of free-throws, but Inman would be able to close the contest with a 55-45 win.
Although Brian Hiebert did not score, he led the Bluebirds with seven rebounds before fouling out. Scoring for the Bluebirds were Ben Wiens with 28 points; Froese, 9 points; Makovec, 4; Reece Hiebert, 3; and Zach Wiens, 1.
Goessel is 0-1 for the season and will host the Bluebird Classic. They played Central Christian on Tuesday and will face Elyria Christian on Friday. Depending on how the games go will determine when the Bluebirds will play on Saturday.