Homecoming Comeback
Goessel Basketball – @ Goessel v. Wakefield Friday, February 7, 2025
A large home crowd witnessed a great Friday night basketball contest on homecoming night 2025. After homecoming festivities were concluded, it was time for the Goessel Bluebirds (2-13) to face off against the visiting Wakefield Bombers (1-13). Goessel would need to find a way to shut down #32 6’-2” 240 lb. post Junior Kingsly Smith (Bomber Bearded Big). Elbiata did a fine rendition of the National Anthem (Goessel fans if you don’t visit at other places you don’t know how special this is) and multi-colored tutus were in evident in the student section from Spirit week. This one had four lead changes but the real story was in a tumultuous 3rd and 4th quarter effort from the home-standing Bluebirds, who came back from a 10-18 halftime deficit to put on a 13-9 run in the third and enthralled the home crowd with an absolutely scintillating 15-3 4th quarter, allowing the Bombers only one direct hit FG the entire final stanza. Jack Nickel was forced to sit nearly the entire 2nd quarter with foul trouble but came alive in the 2nd half to put up 13 brilliant points. Koy Smith also ignited in the 2nd half with two inflammatory treys and key ball-handling down the stretch. This one showed a resilient and capable group and finished 38-30.
The Bomber bigs missed three times point blank to start. Goessel found Koy Smith rolling for a nice open two and Trey Gaddis went kamikaze to the bucket for two more 4-0. Tough pressure at both ends kept this one at a stalemate through the first quarter. Spiderman Noa Laffery let loose with two long range bombs, almost returning to his end of the court zigzag before the ball went through the net each time. Pushes in the paint put the Bombers at the line but they went 1 for 6. Koy Smith was able to answer from short range and the first stanza ended 6-9. In the 2nd quarter, opponent Smith went hard inside for two, but at the other end was called for two quick fouls (foreshadowing here) in succession. At 5:40, home fans were treated to a brilliant low zip bounce from Koy Smith to a streaking baseline Wyatt Sommerfeld for one of the best plays of the night. 8-13, then Gaddis made a great cut backdoor for two more 10-13. Timeout Wakefield 5:20. Goessel showed strong against the big pushes from #32, however the game was looking bleak with Jack on the bench with two fouls as Moenning bombed one to close the half 10-18.
The Goessel Cheer team led the assembled Bluebird fans and students with a great presentation at halftime.
Daxton Summerson let a 15 footer drop for one of the Bombers’ biggest leads of the night 10-20 to start the 3rd. Jack is back. With encouragement from the bench and a horde of supporters, Jack used his strength and size inside to put up a strong two, setting the tone for this period. In yet another inspired moment, Evan Walker pulled down a gigantic offensive board and popped back up with the follow to close to 14-20….actually folks, that effort could have been the moment that turned the tide on this game. Zaiden True came off the bench for the visitors and hit two jumpers to go up 14-25, the biggest Bomber lead of the night at 3:51. Timeout Goessel. Out of the timeout, inspiration. Nickel caught a board and it is believed went coast to coast to go to 16-25. Goessel worked hard against the Bomber zone and found Jack inside for another tough two. At 2:25, Koy put one up from the corner…. You may not know it, but both Jack and Koy have been incredible contributors to Goessel’s State-Bound Scholars Bowl team this year…. (wait for it) nothing but net! This thrilling moment brought the assembled Blue faithful to their feet, wildly cheering, and caused a Wakefield timeout at 1:44. To top off a thrilling quarter, as the clock ticked down, Brayton Base went up underneath against #32 and, despite strong protest from the opponent, got the foul call for #4 on #32 and opponent Smith had to sit. Base calmly hit both free throws to close the incredible 13-9 quarter at 23-27. The band was on fire. Goessel cheer led all in Go Big Blue!
Fast and furious. Nickel wasted no time in going strong to the hoop finding a clean stop and pop. Moments later, at 5:55, Koy pulled in the pass at the top of the key, set and delivered so smooth it is believed that the FDIC sent a telegram to the local bank congratulating him on style points. With the long range three, Goessel retook the lead for the first time since 3:42 in the first quarter. It was the Battle of 32 as Smith from Wakefield and Nickel from Goessel went at it in the paint. Nickel found pay dirt going up against Smith who had 4 fouls. Timeout Wakefield 4:32. 30-29. Down the floor, Gaddis angled toward the paint and found no one picked him up, so went in for the uncontested finish to go up 32-29. At 3:45 Jack pushed hard underneath and was fouled by Uken, who fouled out on the play. 35-30. It was back and forth until 1:52 when Kingsly Smith went hard into the paint, was fouled, and during the ensuing moments was called for a technical foul (fans speculated on what utterance it was) perhaps due to something stated after the play. The technical foul would also be the 5th personal foul for #32. However, in an unusual occurrence, he got to shoot the free throws for the earlier foul before exiting since the technical occurred after the play. Both free throws were missed. Without #32 in the lineup, the Wakefield offense and defensive efforts were diminished. Goessel went to the line five times, with Koy going three for six, Sommerfeld 0 for 2 and Base 0 for 2 down the stretch. Thankfully, the free throws were not needed, as Wakefield was unable to put up anything in the final seconds. This was an outstanding quarter with the Bluebirds going 15-3, holding the visitors to just one field goal and one free throw while hitting a three and four field goals and 4 of 11 from the line. Congratulations on a very entertaining comeback, great effort, hustle and homecoming win. 38-30 Goessel, the biggest Bluebird lead of the night.
Goessel moves to 3-13 with the W, having won 3 of its last 5 contests. This loss leaves the Bombers at 1-14, their only win v. Centre, a team Goessel has lost to.
Koy Smith and Jack Nickel led Bluebird scorers with 15. Trey Gaddis put up 6 . Brayton Base, Evan Walker & Wyatt Sommerfeld finished with 2. Also in for Goessel was Adam Wonser.
-Karl Brubaker
