Season starts Friday at Inman
Contributing writer
With only one starter back from last year, the Goessel boys’ basketball team will be looking to fill openings in its starting lineup. More than 20 boys have reported for practice, so coach Curtis Guhr will have players to mold into these positions.
“Finding the right group to accept their roles will be vital to our success,” Guhr commented.
Ben Wiens returns for his senior season as the only member of the team that earned a starting role in last year’s 9-12 season. Wiens, at 6-1, played a key role as a power forward last year, securing 3.9 rebounds per game and scoring 4.1 points per game. He led the team in shooting, hitting 60 percent of his field goals and 66 percent of his free throws.
Three other seniors lettered last year, adding to the bulk on this year’s squad. Brian Hiebert, at 6-3, has a soft touch around the basket and will be needed for positioning when getting rebounds.
Reece Hiebert, at 6-2, will also take up a lot of space around the basket and will be expected to take his share of the scoring and rebounding tasks, improving on his 1.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per game from last year.
Zach Showalter will be a leader for the team from a guard position. At 5-10, he knocked in 1.7 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game last season.
Guhr is looking for Lawton Makovec, a junior, to see significant minutes on varsity this year. Spending many hours in the gym this summer, it may be that Makovec becomes the ball handler for the team in 2013.
“We have an asset in the ability to handle the ball and our quickness,” said Guhr. “We will be focusing on rebounding and defense as the season begins.”
Last season
The Bluebirds ended last season with a 9-12 overall record and finished in the middle of the Wheat State League with a 4-4 record. Graduation last year took 79 percent of the team’s scoring, so the Bluebirds will be looking to rebuild. Guhr expects Rural Vista, Peabody-Burns, and Centre to be the toughest boys’ teams in the league.
A game Friday at Inman will open the season for Goessel. The Bluebirds will have three games at home next week when they host the Bluebird Classic.