"That Close" Wheat State League
Launch the media gallery 1 playerGoessel Basketball – @ Canton v. Canton-Galva Friday, January 17, 2025
January 17th is Ditch New Years’ Resolutions Day. Despite the day, Goessel’s Lady Bluebirds continue to work hard at living up to their motto of “Level Up” with a huge effort at Canton tonight. There was no shying away from this year’s resolution to continue to “level up” in leadership, experience, learning, and ability. Aimee Funk led tonight’s charge with a monster game, putting up points in every quarter and finishing with 19 on the night to lead all scorers. With officials calling everything in the first half, several players on both teams were in danger of fouling out. It seemed there were fewer whistles in the 2nd half. It was knotted at 18-18 after two quarters and 37-37 at the end of regulation. Canton-Galva put up 5 in overtime to win 37-42.
Junior Trinity Espinoza poses a scoring threat every time she touches the ball. Goessel used quality doubling to slow her down; the Eagles jumped out 2-6 but the Bluebirds put on a dazzling defensive hustle display tonight and scratched back in it on hard drives by A. Funk 5-7. The first quarter closed 5-10 on a prayer three from Eliot. Goessel’s cheer team led the assembled Blue faithful in “Go Go Blue and White.”
Espinoza collected fouls #2 and #3 and had to sit almost immediately in the 2nd. Goessel’s fans rose as one on “twin” drives by Aimee and Abbigail to close to 8-10, but #20 was also called for her 3rd and also had to sit. At 8-13, Coach Hoopes called time and it was 8-15, the largest Eagle lead of the night, before Isabelle Alderfer caught an in-pass in the paint, rotated and closed to 9-15 at the line. Down the floor the next time, fans saw a rare fist pump from Brooklyn Wuest as she hit a highlight bounce “money” pass to a streaking A. Funk for two. Free throws took it to 12-16. With 55 ticks left Aimee found pay dirt from close to the Santa Fe Trail marker and every Bluebird fan in the house rose as one seeing a chance to see light in this game. Delaney Duerksen cajoled in the back end of two from the line; as the clock wound down this time it was Isabelle Alderfer’s turn to crack a wide open grin with a near perfect bounce to Aimee Funk for the lay-in to tie it at 18-18. This superb 13-8 quarter was a great look for the Bluebirds, pushing hard to the bucket and finishing well, anticipating on defense, and smothering the opponent’s looks down the floor.
Goessel took its first lead of the night on a sensational bomb from A. Funk that left every “little cheer” participant present a memory of “I was there.” 21-18. At 4:09, Malia Hoppes was called for her 4th but Abbigail was also called for her #4 and both went to the bench. At 3:33 (really!) #3 (A. Funk) went to the line, waited three seconds and hit the front end of two to go up 22-20 and the 2nd tie of the night came a moment later on a push by Espinoza. Duerksen followed underneath for two; the Bluebirds navigated against the Eagle zone and at 1:57 Funk lit it up with another near perfect effort, this one from very close to Freddy’s . Goessel could not extend its lead as it was back and forth with the 2nd lead change of the night at the end of the quarter 27-28.
It was noted that Aimee Funk probably didn’t have the ideal nutritious breakfast today, but whatever she had for lunch did the trick. To start the 4th quarter she let one fly from somewhere near the Maxwell Game Preserve, startling about 3 elk and a trio of young bison. Time out Eagles 6:57. Duerksen left one fly that caused Grandpa Schmidt to fairly glow with delight. 33-28. After another stop on the Eagles, Logan Bryant set and delivered from 10 feet with a “swift” bullet (that is, very minimal arc and no argument whether it was going in or not- in golf when putting we would have said “you took the break out of that one”) for Goessel’s biggest lead of the night 35-28. Goessel had kept the Eagles off the board with sensational defense to the 3:53 mark when Espinoza drove, was fouled and hit both charities to go to 35-30. Abbigail was back in and the Bluebirds attempted to hold the ball around the perimeter, but the Eagles’ defense came alive and steals/turnovers proved effective as the Eagles came back on a 2-9 run to close the quarter at 37-37. Malia Hoppes nailed a dagger three to start the overtime period and the Bluebirds could find no offensive traction, with the home team finishing with five points in overtime. The last 11 points of the game came for the Eagles allowing them to steal the game and put this one away 37-42. It was “that close” in the Wheat State League contest tonight. With four ties and four lead changes, this was an exciting Friday night for all in attendance.
Aimee Funk led the Bluebird scoring tonight with a huge 19 including 4 threes. Delany Duerksen finished with 6, Brooklyn Wuest, Logan Bryant with 2, and Abbigail Funk had 7, Isabelle Alderfer finished with 1. Abbigail was a perfect 2/2 from the free throw line. Also on the floor tonight for Goessel were: Abigail Johnson and Hailey Rosfeld.
-Karl Brubaker
