The West Liberty girls’ basketball team continued their season with a pair of lopsided matchups at home including a 67-21 loss to Iowa City Regina and a 59-37 victory over North Cedar.
The Comets struggled Tuesday night (Jan. 7) against the Class 2A No. 3 Regals. Wasting no time, the relentless pressure saw the visitors score 19 points in the opening quarter followed by 17-point showing in the second.
It saw the Comets trailing 36-10 at the break. A 22-point explosion from the Regals in the third quarter put the cap on a long night for the Comets.
Tides raised on Thursday as North Cedar came to town. What looked to be a slugfest following the Comets’ 18 points in the opening quarter, the Knights kept pace with 12. The game quickly turned as the Comets tallied 22 ahead of half time, taking a 40-22 lead into the break.
The Knights managed to cut into the Comets total slightly, outscoring their hosts 11-9 in the third quarter, but the Comets went on to secure victory in the final quarter taking a 59-37 victory on home court.
Three Comets scored in double figures with junior Mallory Wulf’s 19 leading the way. Senior Pearson Hall and freshman Kylee Daufeldt backed her up with 13 and 12 respectively.
The Comets will host Wilton Friday before heading to Tipton next Tuesday to take on the Tigers.
Regals escape with one-point win
A number of three pointers ratted the backboard for the Comets in the final 10 seconds of their matchup against Iowa City Regina last Tuesday.
Despite multiple second-chance opportunities, the Comets settled for two points in the waning seconds of the contest.
In the final 1.1 ticks of the clock, the Comets hoped for a miracle, only for it to go unanswered. A deep inbounds throw managed to drain the remainer of the clock as the Comets suffered their second consecutive heartbreak against a ranked opponent, falling 51-50 to visiting Iowa City Regina.
The Comets proved a thorn in the side of the Regals all night, staying just within striking distance.
Trailing by nine at the half, the Comets cut one off the tally in the third quarter, outscoring their visitors 11-10.
Holding the Regals to six in the final quarter proved enough to give the Comets a chance. Needing 14 in the final quarter to at least force overtime, the Comets scored 13.
On Thursday, the Comets played host to North Cedar. An explosive Comet start saw them run ahead to an early lead in the first quarter before a back-and-forth 32 points combined in the second quarter prepped the crowd for what seemed to be a second half full of fireworks.
Baskets kept raining for the Comets after the break, scoring 23 points after the break, before putting the cap on the night in the fourth quarter.
Senior Seth Axsom starred in this matchup, posting a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds along with tying for a game-high four steals.
Senior Ryker Dengler led the team with 18 points. Senior Cael Daufeldt also found double figures with 10 points on 4/5 shooting from the field.
The Comets will host Wilton Friday before heading to Tipton next Tuesday to take on the Tigers.