Comets lead all the way in 59-45 win over Dike-New Hartford

Fast start, strong finish lead CC to season-opening victory over Wolverines

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — It was that time of the game again.

The Charles City Comets were nursing a six-point lead with less than four minutes remaining in regulation in their non-conference home and season opener against 2016 Class 2A State Boys Basketball Tournament qualifier Dike-New Hartford.

It was one of those “Don’t Worry, Just Panic” fourth-quarter situations the then young Comets faced plenty times last season that too often ended in defeat.

And when the Wolverines rolled out the press, Comet fans with recent memories couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

But with several deft passes and good open-court vision, the Comets broke the press twice. First, Jackson Molstead found a sideline lane to the front court and finished with a layup extending Charles City’s lead to 50-42.

Then when the Wolverines tried it again — this time calling a timeout before the inbound, suggesting that they were going to roll out a well-rehearsed-in-practice trap — the Comets broke it when Cade Hemesath found a wide-open Jaden Foster with a long-court pass that resulted in another layup.

That helped seal the ensuing 59-45 Charles City victory.

“That’s what we’re doing here … we’re preparing these guys for late game situations like that,” said Ben Klapperich, who won his first game in as many tries as the Comets new head coach. “We’re preparing these guys to win basketball games.”

Hemesath had a game-high 21 points. Molstead added 16 points, most of which came on three 3-point field goals; and Foster was among the Comets’ leading rebounders as he secured several defensive boards late in the game to keep the Wolverines at bay.

The Comets jumped out to a 13-0 lead when junior Noah Schlader hit the second of his three 3-pointers. The Wolverines responded with a 10-0 run before Charles City regained a double-digit advantage when Hemesath’s put-back bucket and Hakeen Sharief’s 3-point shot made the score 27-17 before the Comets took a 34-26 lead at intermission.

The Comets connected on eight 3-point shots during the game.

The Wolverines pulled within four just early into the fourth quarter (40-36) on Broden Coulter’s baseline drive to the basket. But Dike-New Hartford, which had the best winning percentage of all classes last year (25-1), only managed 9 points for the rest of the game as Charles City’s defense preventing any Wolverine from reaching double-figure scoring as Connor Blough and Colton Harberts paced the team with 9 apiece.

Among those in attendance for the Comets’ opener were current and former members of Rockford’s boys basketball team who played for Klapperich when he coached the Warriors.

“It was great to see those guys come out and support me, and they’re doing great themselves,” Klapperich said of the 2-0 Warriors. “They’re a great group of guys, and that’s what we’re trying to produce with the guys who go through our program here. And you don’t have to be a good basketball player to be a good person.”

The Comets will be back in action Saturday during a varsity basketball doubleheader against Algona. The girls game starts at 1 p.m.; the boys game will follow at approximately 2:30 p.m.

CHARLES CITY 59,

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD 45

Scoring By Quarters

DNH 10 16 8 11 — 45

CC 15 19 6 18 — 59

CHARLES CITY — Jackson Molstead 16, Hakeen Sharief 3, Mike Cranshaw 3, Noah Schlader 9, Cade Hemesath 21, Jaden Foster 5, Mike Andrews 2.

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD —Broden Coulter 6, Royce Weber 5, Isaac Jorgensen 5, Cade Fuller 5, Connor Blough 9, Ban Latusek 6, Colton Harberts 9.