Comets cruise past Cadets, 65-38

By John Burbridge sports@charlesitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — It has been awhile since Charles City has won at home.

Actually, the Comets only have one home loss this season — the opener against Dike-New Hartford. And dating back from last season, the skid at Comet Gym is a mere two games.

But that former game was a humbling loss to Northeast Iowa Conference foe Crestwood in the first round of the district playoffs.

The Cadets returned to Charles City on Friday for the NEIC opener for both teams. This time is was the Comets who won big in a 65-38 final.

Charles City thoroughly outplayed and out-hustled the Cadets right from the start. After taking a 10-point lead through the first quarter, the Comets outscored the Cadets 18-2 in the second quarter for a commanding 30-10 halftime lead.

Crestwood came out with a more competitive effort in the second half, but for the most part just matched baskets with the Comets, who were never threatened.

Charles City posted four players in double-figure scoring with junior guard Jackson Molstead leading the way with 19 points.

It should be noted that much of Molstead’s offense didn’t come by way of the 3-point shot — though he did hit one during the game. Rather, it came from a bevy of seven-footers and “tear-drop” one-handed runners in the lane while creating space off his dribble drives.

Cade Hemesath scored a season-high 13 points, which incidentally included two 3-point shots, and fellow Charles City seniors Mike Cranshaw and Noah Schlader each scored 10 for the Comets (3-1, 1-0 NEIC), who won’t be back in action until next Friday (Dec. 15) when they host Oelwein in the second game of girls-boys varsity doubleheader.

Crestwood (2-1, 0-1), got 15 points from Zachary Lane, who was the team’s lone double-figure scorer.

Early in the second quarter while facing a Crestwood zone, the Comets put on a skip pass clinic with ball primarily going through sophomore Marcus Cranshaw on the wing. After patiently running more than 20 seconds off the clock, the said Cranshaw deftly snuck the ball inside to Hemesath for a half-court layup.

Several possessions later, the Comets still stuck to the extra-passing game with Hemesath finding Schlader for a spot-up 3-pointer.

It was Mike Cranshaw’s steal and layup in the final seconds of the half that gave Charles City a 36-10 intermission lead.

CHARLES CITY 65, CRESTWOOD 38

Scoring By Quarters

CRESTWOOD 8 2 16 12 — 38

CHARLES CITY 18 18 13 16 — 65

CRESTWOOD (38)

Zachary Lane 15, Shane Vokaty 2, Jacob Andera 2, Nathan Martinek 6, Clayton Ollendieck 3, Jon Henry 2, Carter Henry 8, Boston Ferrie 2.

CHARLES CITY (65)

Jackson Molstead 19, Marcus Cranshaw 2, Mike Cranshaw 10, Colton Slinger 5, Bradley Andrews 4, Noah Schlader 10, Cade Hemesath 13, Tait Arndt 2.