Crestwood ends Comets’s season with 60-37 win in district semis

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The Crestwood Cadets entered the Class 3A District 6 boys basketball semifinal with an 8-12 record.

But playoff basketball — in particular single-elimination basketball — can hinge on matchup problems and/or advantages.

The physical, offensive-board crashing Cadets  pose plenty of challenges for Charles City, especially when the Comets are struggling from field like they were when they hosted the bracket semifinals Monday.

The Comets picked the worst night to have their worst offensive output of the season as the Cadets eliminated them in a 60-37 final.

Crestwood advances to the finals where they will play top-seed Forest City in Forest City.

For the Comets, their season — which started at 6-0 and included recognition in the AP Class 3A Top 10 poll — ends at 15-7.

The Cadets jumped out to an 24-8 lead before 3-point field goals by Noah Schlader and Jaden Foster got the home crowd going.

Crestwood eventually took a 35-23 lead at the half, but it was the second half when it really took over.

The Cadets limited the Comets to just 14 second-half points — another season low — while sending a legion of  Forest City fans sticking around waiting to see who their team was playing on Thursday home midway through the third quarter.

As the offensive woes continued in the second half for the Comets, the Cadets took advantage of Charles City not protecting the backcourt on numerous occasions for open-court layups from outlet passes after defensive rebounds.

Alex Kerian led all scorers with 15 points, and Kristian Szajna and Clayton Ollendieck each had 13 points for the Cadets.

Schlader and Jack Molstead each had 10 points for the Comets.

Class 3A District 6 Semifinal

CRESTWOOD 60, CHARLES CITY 37

Scoring By Quarters

Crestwood 18 17 17 8 — 60

Charles City 8 15 5 9 — 37

CRESTWOOD — Spencer Cuvelier 4, Kristian Szajna 13, Nathan Martinek 7, Alex Kerian 15, Jon Henry 2, Clayton Ollendieck 13, Jordan Girolamo 2.

CHARLES CITY — Jack Molstead 10, Hakeem Sharief 1, Dalton Cleveland 5, Noah Schlader 10, Cade Hemesath 6, Jaden Foster 3, Elliott Gebel.