Goessel comes from behind
Staff writer
In a game of streaks, Goessel’s boys trailed by nine in the third quarter but managed to come away with a 50-46 victory Friday over visiting Udall.
Goessel trailed by two after the first quarter. Many of the Bluebirds’ possessions came up empty in the second as Udall went on an 8-0 run, but Caleb Burkholder, Tim Schrag, and Caiden Duerksen scored buckets late to end the half trailing by three.
Goessel only scored two points in the third quarter, and Udall built an eight-point lead. But aggressive defense, scrambles for loose balls, and steals powered the Bluebirds on a 14-2 run.
Scoring from Skyler Wuest, Duerksen, and Burkholder tied the game at 40, and the last two minutes were a free-throw shooting clinic as Jacob Schrag and Burkholder hit seven of eight.
The Bluebirds led 47-42 with 28 seconds left. Udall scored twice to close the gap to a single point, but free-throws sealed the victory.
Burkholder led Goessel scorers with 14. Duerksen had 11.
The Bluebirds’ next game, after a boys-only date Tuesday at Peabody, will be Jan. 7 at home against Rural Vista.
Girls
Goessel’s girls stole their way to victory Friday, grabbing 17 steals while coasting to a 47-22 victory over Udall.
The Bluebirds outscored the Eagles 15-1 in the second quarter to put this game away.
Speedster Cheyenne Sawyer broke away for numerous lay-ups and hit two three-pointers to lead Goessel with 21 points.
Riley Graber dropped in eight points in the third quarter as the Bluebirds continued to build on a 22-7 halftime lead.
The Goessel girls will go into Christmas break with a 3-2 record.