The West Liberty High School boys basketball team fell in both of their matchups this week, dropping a 62-56 bout to Durant and getting beat 63-55 by North Cedar.
The Comets of coach James Laughlin fall to 3-10 on the season with just one win in the River Valley Conference.
The week started with a visit from the Wildcats of Durant. The teams traded blows throughout the first quarter, neither conceding an inch as they found themselves deadlocked 14-14 after the opening period.
The Comets grabbed the lead in the second period behind a 17-13 showing, clinging to a four point advantage as the teams headed into the locker room at half time.
The Wildcats weren’t about to go down without a fight, as they came charging back in the third period, outscoring the Comets 16-13, to bring the lead back within one, 44-43, the Comets just hanging on in the RVC outing.
Unable to slow the Durant offense in the final quarter, the Comets saw their foes regain the lead and score 19 in the final quarter to the Comets 12, capturing the 62-56 victory.
Sophomore Jayce McHugh and Caleb Wulf led the Comets offensively, both scoring 19 points in the loss. McHugh hit seven of 12 field goals and five of eight from the charity stripe to compose his total while Wulf, a senior, went eight for 18 while also nailing a trio of three pointers. Wulf also had nine rebounds to lead the Comets as well as three steals.
Junior Ty Jones added 10 points and Seth Axsom with eight rounded out the Comet offense.
Durant was led by junior Nolan DeLong, who led all scorers with 27 points, connecting on nine of 17 field goals and a pair of three point shots as well as hitting seven of his nine free throws to help the Wilcats to their fourth win of the season.
Friday meant a visit from the Knights of North Cedar, a team that had only one win going into the game. The Comets found themselves behind early, trailing 21-12 after a first quarter seized by the Knight offense. A 17 point second quarter for the Knights left the Comets trailing by 14, 38-24, heading into the locker room at halftime.
The Comets battled back after the break, outscoring their opponents 17-11 in the frame to pull the lead to within eight but the Comets comeback attempt fell short as they were unable to score enough baskets to bring themselves back within striking distance, falling by that eight point margin, 63-55.
McHugh led all scorers with 24 points and six rebounds, hitting 10 of 18 field goals and going four of six from the stripe. Wulf added 19 more in the losing cause, although shooting just 25 percent from the floor in 40 shots while picking up six more rebounds.
Seth Axsom scored eight for the Comets including a pair of three point shots while Diego Hernandez and Caden Laughlin each had two to round out the Comet scoring.
North Cedar had three players in double figures led by senior Nate Meyer.
The Comets hit the road to play Tipton Friday at 8 p.m. at the Tipton Middle School before the long bus ride Saturday to play against Northeast beginning at 5 p.m. They will play Tuesday, Feb. 1, against visiting West Branch beginning at 7:30 p.m.