Staff writer
More than 20 boys showed up for Goessel High School basketball practice Nov. 17, and coach Curtis Guhr and assistant coach Chad Lindeman are beginning to discover who will fill key roles this year.
Last year, the Bluebirds were 9-13 overall and 3-4 in the league. In order to improve on that record Goessel will work with its strengths.
“Quickness and the ability to handle the ball are definite assets,” Guhr said.
“We’re going to have to be aggressive this year,” said senior Lawton Makovec. “Our outside game will be good, but we will need to adjust for the lack of height that we lost to graduation.”
Makovec is the only returning starter. Last year, he averaged 10.9 points and 3 rebounds per game. Makovec can score from long distance and drive the lane.
Junior Zach Wiens returns as the Bluebirds’ tallest letterwinner. At 6-foot-3, he demonstrated a hunger for rebounds last year on both ends of the floor. Wiens averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Connor Davis, senior, also lettered last year and will be counted on to earn his share of points and rebounds this year. Davis, at 6-foot-1, averaged 2.3 rebounds per game last season. Senior Kellen Froese dropped in 2.7 points per game, many of them from long range.
Senior Lucas Hiebert saw limited action last year but will be counted on to add to this year’s offense. Aaron Woelk, another senior, may see varsity action as the team hopes to improve on its 47-points-per-game average.
Without a tall squad, “rebounding and ball defense will be two areas of focus,” Guhr said.
Goessel finished the 2014 season with a loss in the substate championship game.
The Bluebirds begin the season with Inman on Dec. 5 at home. The Bluebird Classic tournament at Goessel will see the home team participate on Dec. 9, 12, and 13.