Goessel splits with Solomon

By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

Weather caused Centre, Marion, and Peabody-Burns to postpone their varsity boys and girls basketball games scheduled for Friday. Hillsboro was not scheduled to play on Friday.

Girls

It was a slow start for both Goessel and Solomon teams. With four minutes played, the Bluebirds led, 2-1. Then, layups began going in for Goessel. The Bluebirds led 15-5 at the end of the first quarter.

Goessel held the Gorillas scoreless in the second quarter, and the Bluebirds’ lead ballooned to 28-5 at halftime.

The Bluebirds relaxed their full-court pressure, but even in half-court defense, Goessel anticipated passes from the Gorillas, leading to many easy baskets.

With a 34-point lead at the end of the third quarter, the whole fourth quarter was played with a running clock. Goessel won by a final score of 54-21.

Cheyenne Sawyer led the Bluebirds with 15 points, followed by Abbigail Funk with 11 points. Aimee Funk ended with 9 points, and Greta Scholle tallied 8.

Goessel finished the week with a 5-2 record and 3-0 in the Wheat State League.

The Bluebirds will be at home Friday playing Canton-Galva (6-3).

Boys

Traveling to Solomon for a league game inspired the Bluebirds to start strong.

Taking advantage of several missed shots by the home team, Goessel jumped out to a 14-6 lead in the first quarter.

A flurry of points from well-executed fast breaks allowed the Gorillas to score 10 consecutive points, and the Bluebirds never again would lead in the game.

Two three-pointers from Koy Smith and a three-pointer from Wade Spurlin tied the game at 28-28 at halftime.

Jack Nickel scored 10 of his 12 points in the third period, but momentum had shifted in favor of Solomon, and Goessel trailed 47-38 at the end of three quarters.

Noah Schrag weaved his way toward the basket for four points, and Smith added five more points in the fourth quarter. But again, Solomon ended the game with nine unanswered points to win by a final score of 69-49.

Noah Schrag totaled 16 points for the Bluebirds, and Jack Nickel dropped in 12. Koy Smith scored in double digits with 11 points.

The Goessel boys are now 1-2 in the Wheat State League and 3-4 overall.

The Bluebirds will be host Friday to Canton-Galva (5-4).