The West Liberty High School girls basketball team captured a pair of victories heading into the post season, knocking off two neighbors including the West Branch Bears and Iowa City Regals to improve to 16-4 on the season.
Both wins also come in River Valley Conference play as the Comets finished as the number eight ranked team in the state’s Class 3A according to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
The week started with a visit from West Branch. The Comets started off the contest guns blazing, outscoring the Bears 14-3 to secure a healthy advantage in the opening period.
The Bears corrected course in the second period but were unable to close the gap as the Comets outscored them 18-14 and took a 32-17 advantage into the break.
The pace of play slowed in the second half, as the Comets nursed their lead, outscoring their opponents 21-17 through the final two quarters of play. The Comets emerged 53-34 victors on the night.
Junior Finley Hall and senior Macy Daufeldt sat atop the scoreboard for the Comets with 18 points apiece. Finley hit a pair of three point shots and went seven of 17 from the field while adding a pair of free throws for her total while Daufeldt canned eight of 14 field goals and added a pair of three pointers along with pulling down 10 rebounds.
Senior Sailor Hall followed with 12 more points for the Comets, hitting half of her shots including a pair of three pointers and a pair of free throws. She also led the team in assists with six and had two steals. Freshman Pearson Hall rounded out Comet scoring with five points.
On Friday the Comets headed to Iowa City to play the rival Regals. Both teams offenses had trouble getting themselves establish early on as midway through the first the Comets led just 2-0.
Offenses started finding their footing and the first period ended with a defensive 8-6 Comet lead.
Scoring was finally set loose in the second period with the Comets solidifying their lead in the second quarter, heading into the locker room leading 24-18.
The Regals girls weren’t going to go silently as they came out of the locker room and cut into the Comet lead in the third quarter, outscoring them 10-9 to cut the lead to five.
The Regals continued to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, tying the game at the midpoint of the fourth quarter. The Comets fended off the comeback through defense and secured a 44-38 victory for coach Matt Hoeppner.
Pearson Hall led Comet scoring with 14, getting four of seven field goals and half of her four three point shots while connecting on four of six free throws. She also led the team in assists with five.
Daufeldt followed closely with 12 points for West Liberty including four of nine field goals and a four of 10 showing from the line.
Sailor and Finley Hall added eight and seven points respectively. Brooklyn Buysse rounded out Comet scoring with three points.
The Comets head into the post season and will host Northeast Saturday in the opening round at 7 p.m. in the Regional Quarter Final game. If victorious, the Comets will play the winner of Central Lee and Davenport Assumption the following Tuesday. Both of those contests will be played on the Comet hardwood.