The West Liberty High School boys' basketball team of coach James Laughlin ended their regular season with a loss to Wilton on senior night last Tuesday, Feb. 8, falling 71-48 before dropping their opening round of District play at Durant Monday night with tough loss behind a poor-shooting fourth quarter.
The Wilton side flew out of the gate full steam ahead, putting up 20 points and holding the Comets to just eight in the opening frame. Wilton one-upped their offensive production in the second quarter, adding 22 more. The Comet offense was able to establish itself before the half, adding 17 points, but headed into the locker room trailing 42-25.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Comets outscored their opponents 13-11 in the third quarter to cut into the lead, but the Beavers, behind the hot shooting of junior Caden Kirkman who led all scorers with 32 points, were able to hold off the comeback attempt from the Comets, outscoring them 18-10 in the final quarter and taking a, easy 71-48 victory over the neighboring rivals.
Sophomore Jayce McHugh led Comet scoring with 17 points, hitting seven field goals and three of four from the line.
Ty Jones and Caleb Wulf followed with 12 and 11 respectively to also get into doble-figures, Jones getting all his from the field while Wulf had a three-pointer and a pair of free throws to go along with his four field goals. McHugh also led rebounding efforts with seven, had two steals and a blocked shot.
Caden Laughlin added three for the Comets while Eion Bardell and Diego Hernandez each added two and Josh Perez-Echevarria also got on the books with a single point for the Comets.
Wilton had three players in double figures, led by Kirkman who hit 16 of 23 field goals and pulled down 15 rebounds while blocking four shots to help the Beavers to a 17-5 record.
On Monday, the Comets headed to Durant to play the Wildcats in their first round of post-season play, hoping to come away with their fourth win of the season against 18 losses.
The two teams were evenly matched throughout the first quarter, trading baskets enroute to a 11-10 quarter favoring Durant, which climbed to 6-16 on the season with the win.
The second quarter saw much of the same as the two teams did battle before the half with the Wildcats taking a 25-23 advantage into the break.
The first bit of breathing room came for the Wildcats in the third quarter, as they were able to add four points to their lead, outscoring the Comets 17-13 in the quarter, the Comets finding themselves trailing 42-36 with a quarter to play.
The torrid pace of the contest came to a halt in the final quarter as the Wildcats played to protect their lead, the two teams scored just 11 points combined in the final frame with an 8-3 advantage favoring Durant while the Comets season ended on a 50-39 loss.
The Comets end their season 3-19 overall and 1-18 in River Valley Conference play.
West Liberty will see the departure of Caleb Wulf, Eion Bardell, Jack Mahoney and Josh Perez-Echivarria, but will return five other players next season who saw time in the starting rotation.