By William / www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

GOESSEL – The Little River boys basketball team still has had just four practices due to football and that could be why they lost for the second time in the early season when Goessel nipped them by one-point, 39-38, on Tuesday in the second round of the Bluebird Classic.

Goessel held a one-point, 7-6, lead at the end of the first quarter before pulling ahead of the Redskins by seven at 17-10 going into the halftime break.

Little River came out swinging in the third quarter and put 20 points on the board while Goessel hit for 17, lowering the Redskin deficit to four points heading into the final quarter where Goessel hung on to earn the one-point win.

“It will be nice when we are healthy,” said Redskin head coach Erik Base after the game. “I am extremely proud of our guys effort and ability to get better through games considering we have had only four full practices.”

The Redskins struggled from the field throughout the game, connecting on just 30% of their shots.

Andrew Smith, Treyton Olander, and Rylan Konen led Little River in scoring with eight points each while Dalton Mantz chipped in with six.

Mantz led the team in rebounds with four while also dishing out a team leading four assists and grabbing a pair of steals.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR “AREA TEAM”?

The loss drops the Redskins to just 1-2 in the first week of the season as they now get a few days of rest and prep before playing their final game of the Bluebird Classic on Saturday.

LITTLE RIVER REDSKINS vs. Goessel at the Bluebird Classic

SCORING:        1          2          3          4          FINAL

REDSKINS        6          4          20        8          38       

Goessel           7          10        17        5          39       

TEAM STATS:              REDSKINS        Goessel

Shooting                     13/44 (30%)    N/A    

3-Pointers                   4/17 (24%)      N/A

Free Throws                8/13 (62%)      N/A

Rebounds (Off/Def)    15                    N/A

Assists                         7                      N/A

Turnovers                   13                    N/A    

Steals                          6                      N/A    

Blocked Shots             2                      N/A

Personal Fouls            13                    N/A

LITTLE RIVER REDSKINS INDIVIDUAL SCORING & STAT LEADERS:

Scoring (38 Total Points): Andrew Smith – 8; Rylan Konen – 8; Treyton Olander – 8; Dalton Mantz – 6; Kyle Bruce – 5; Ryan Loder – 3.

Three-Pointers Made (4): Treyton Olander – 2; Rylan Konen, Ryan Loder – 1.

Rebound Leaders: Dalton Mantz – 4; Rylan Konen, Kyle Bruce – 3.

Assist Leader: Dalton Mantz – 4.

Leader in Steals: Dalton Mantz, Kyle Bruce – 2.

Leader in Blocked Shots: Rylan Konen, Treyton Olander – 1.