The West Liberty High School Boys basketball team captured their first win of the Season Saturday over Columbus but fell in their other three matchups earlier in the week against Bellevue, Tipton and Anamosa.
On Monday, Dec. 13, visiting Bellevue saw Comet Caleb Wulf nail a three from the corner to start the night. Three minutes of scoreless basketball followed before Ty Jones scored on a runner to extend the Comet lead. Bellevue took the lead with two minutes to go in the opening quarter to go up 9-7 and did not trail for the remainder of the contest although the Comets tied the game at nine.
Bellevue then outscored the Comets 18-12 in the second quarter to take a 27-21 halftime advantage. Bellevue’s score total nearly doubled in the third quarter, as they outscored the Comets 24-13 to solidify their lead followed by a 23 point fourth.
Caleb Wulf had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Comets while Jayce McHugh and Ty Jones had eight apiece. Diego Hernandez and Mason Young had two and one respectively to round out Comet scoring.
On Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Comets played host to another conference foe, the Tipton Tigers. Tipton pulled away to capture a five-point lead early. The teams traded blows before Tipton was able to secure a 10-point lead, 16-6, after a quarter. The second quarter saw the tables turn as the Comets went on the offensive, scoring 16 in the quarter, eight of which coming from Jones. The Comets headed into the locker room trailing by two, 24-22.
Tipton scored the first points on the second half, before the Comets offense fired back. Wulf gave the Comets their first lead of the Contest in the third quarter hitting a three-pointer to capture a small 30-29 advantage.
Wulf extended the lead, drawing a foul and converting on both free throws. Wulf added two more with a runner before forcing a Tiger timeout, leading 36-29. Tipton answered after a six-minute scoring drought, the Comets clinging to a 38-35 lead.
The teams traded baskets in the fourth before Tipton fired back late, reclaiming the lead with 3:30 left. The Comets fought resiliently, capitalizing on opportunities but fell short, 58-51.
Jones led the way with 21 for the Comets. Wulf and McHugh followed with 13 and 11. Diego Hernandez and Josh-Perez-Echevarria completed Comet scoring with three apiece.
On Friday, the Comets faced hosting Anamosaand the two teams went to battle in the first quarter, neither giving an inch, but it was the Raider who won the opening quarter, outscoring the Comets 17-12 with a late quarter scoring surge.
The second quarter led to more offense but it was Anamosa who led at the half, 30-24. Anamosa distanced themselves in the third quarter, outscoring the Comets 27-11 before 23 more points in the final frame gave Anamosa a convincing 80-52 victory.
Wulf scored 20 on the night while McHugh and Jones contributed 16 and 11.
The week ended Saturday for the Comets as they hosted Columbus in non-conference action, hoping to end a seven game losing skid. The Comets pounced on the Wildcats early, capturing a 15-4 lead with three minutes left in the opening frame. The Wildcat defense controlled the remainder of the first, holding the Comets scoreless while clawing back the lead to trail 15-11.
Columbus took the lead a minute later with a three-pointer. 17-15, but West Liberty recaptured the lead two minute later following a Ty Jones jumper and extended it with a Wulf layup. The teams battled back and forth before the Comets were able to create a six-point lead at the half, 35-29.
The Comets solidified their lead after outscoring the Wildcats 20-4 after the break to take a 55-33 lead. The Comet scoring showcase continued into the final quarter to capture the 70-42 victory.
Wulf led the Comets with 31 points whileJones had 17 and McHugh hit 14.
The Comets head into the holiday break and will return after the new year on Jan. 4 against hosting West Branch, the Jan. 7 against Regina in Iowa City before hosting Camanche to end the first week of the new year on the Dec. 8.