The West Liberty High School boys basketball team looked to come out of the Holiday break refreshed, but would run into fierce competition dropping all three games to start the new year including bowing 51-41 to Louisa Muscatine, 57-26 to West Branch and 67-43 to Camanche.
The Comets fell to 1-8 following the week of action, losing their eighth straight on the season.
First on the docket was a trip to Letts to play Louisa-Muscatine. In the Comets final non-conference matchup of the season, the Comets kept the game close during the opening quarter, trailing just 9-6.
An explosive second quarter from the Falcons saw the Comets lose traction, heading into the locker room down 28-14. A competitive third quarter left the Comets with a chance to make the final quarter comeback but they were unable to muster enough points to take the victory and fell 51-41.
Caleb Wulf lead the effort for the Comets with 16 points, six rebounds two assists and seven steals. Chance Thrasher and Jahsiah Galvan cleaned the glass for the Comets, both recording 10 rebounds. Galvan also had seven points while Thrasher hit six. Ty Jones had six points as well, along with three rebounds, four steals and an assist. Hector Adames had four points in the losing cause while Jace McHugh closed out scoring for West Liberty with a free throw.
On Tuesday, Jan. 5, the Comets hosted the Bears from West Branch. The Comets fell behind early, scoring just three points in the opening period to trail 17-3. The Comets doubled their scoring output in the second quarter against a tough Bear defense and ultimately headed into the locker room down 28-9.
The Bear offensive attack remained relentless throughout the second half and the Comets would fall 57-26.
Ty Jones led scoring for the Comets with eight points and three rebounds. Chance Thrasher added six points of his own accompanied by four rebounds. Hector Adames had five points and Jahsiah Galvan added three. Jayce McHugh and Eion Bardell rounded out Comet scoring with two each.
On Saturday, the Comets journeyed to Camanche to take on the Indians. Camanche jumped ahead early, mounting a 20-point deficit over the Comets 25-5 after the first quarter. A closer second period followed although the Comets headed into the locker room trailing 40-16. The Comets kept scoring close during the second half but the deficit would prove too big to overcome, falling 67-43.
Caleb Wulf scored 22 points in the outing, 16 more than his next closest teammate. The junior also pulled down four rebounds and accounted for three assists. Chance thrasher had six points, two rebounds and a steal while Jahsiah Galvan had five points, four rebounds and two blocked shots. Josh Perez-Echevarria added points for the Comets along with nabbing three rebounds. Ty Jones finished with four points and Hector Adames would round out scoring with one point.
The Comets travel to Mid-Prairie Friday before hosting Durant Tuesday. Home games can be viewed live on the West Liberty School District YouTube channel.