Fast start, strong finish lead Comets past Chickasaws 79-50

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The Charles City Comets outscored New Hampton 23-11 in the first quarter and 26-16 in the fourth quarter.

In the middle quarters the Chickasaws merely traded baskets with the Comets with the latter team coming out a little ahead.

When you added it all up, Charles City came out more than a little ahead in a 79-53 final on Tuesday night.

For the Comets, it ended a four-game winning streak completing a season sweep of the Chickasaws as the Comets had defeated them earlier in the season with another 20-point-plus victory.

Comet senior JJ Ritter led all scorers with 26 points which included four 3-point field goals.

Comet sophomore Chase Low had 18 points, but most of his shots came at point blank range as he repeatedly was able to get a first step past Chickasaw defenders.

Ian Collins, who led plenty of Charles City breaks up the floor after seizing defensive rebounds, had 10 points, and Kaden Barry got back on track from beyond the arc during the second half while scoring 8 points which included a pair of 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions.

Chickasaw junior Drake Wemark, who is particularly slick with the ball in the open court as well as the halfcourt, scored 20 points to lead New Hampton.

The following Thursday, Charles City outscored Crestwood 14-5 in the fourth quarter to edge the Cadets on the road 61-60.

It avenged last Friday’s 70-67 home loss to the Cadets.

Barry managed to maintain his range in Cresco as he led the Comets with 17 points, including five 3-pointers. Ritter scored 16 helping the Comets improve to 8-11 overall while closing their NEIC record at 5-7.

The two team are due to face each other a third time in the first round of the Class 3A-Substate 3 bracket at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 in Cresco.

* The Charles City Comets girls basketball team finished the regular season with a 48-36 road loss to New Hampton.

The Comets finished the regular season with an overall record of 3-17 and 2-10 NEIC mark

Boys Varsity

CHARLES CITY 79, NEW HAMPTON 53

Scoring By Quarters

NEW HAMPTON 11 11 15 16 — 53

CHARLES CITY 23 16 14 26 — 79

NEW HAMPTON — Drake Wemark 20, Ben Gilbert 2, Conner Rochford 8, Tyler Wiltse 3, Carter Steinlage 7, Cael Liestikow 4, Cody Shultz 9.

CHARLES CITY — JJ Ritter 26, Jose Hernandez 9, Ian Collins 10, Chase Low 18, Kaden Barry 8, Jeremiah Chapman 2, Drew Martin 2.