Lions attack early, defeat Comets 87-60

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — With hot-potato-like ball movement, the Clear Lake Lions repeatedly found the open man who repeatedly found the bottom of the net.

And the Charles City Comets soon found themselves down by 30 with still more than two-and-a-half minutes left in the first half.

Employing more full-court trapping pressure and taking it strong to the hole to draw more fouls in the second half, the Comets managed to bite into the Lions’ overwhelming lead while slowing down the clock.

With still much of the fourth quarter left, the Comets got within 18 points of Clear Lake and were perhaps a run away from getting within single-digits.

But not only did the Lions boast a rebounding advantage on both sides of the floor, they displayed an uncanny ability to secure most every loose ball within range of their claws and continued to cash in with second- and third-chance shots.

Thus, Clear Lake was able to maintain a comfortably lead all the way to winning 87-60, Monday night in non-conference boys basketball action at Comet Gym.

Carson Taebe led Clear Lake with 22 points, followed by Tate Storbeck (21 points), and Drew Enke, who scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half. Together, the aforementioned Lions hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter leading their team to a 34-11 advantage after eight minutes.

Comet senior Jack Molstead led all scorers with 29 points. Bradley Andrews added 11 points and recorded two blocks, and Marcus Cranshaw scored 10, which included going 3 of 3 at the free-throw line after being fouled while attempting a 3-point shot.

The converted free throws got the Comets within 18, but the Lions never dialed down their intensity and finished the game strong for the margin of victory.

Clear Lake improved to 3-0.

Charles City fell to 1-1 and will open its Northeast Iowa Conference schedule Friday with an away game against Crestwood.

CLEAR LAKE 87,
CHARLES CITY 60

Scoring By Quarters

CLEAR LAKE               34 14 21 18 — 87

CHARLES CITY          11 10 22 17 — 60

CLEAR LAKE — Drew Enke 18, Alex Snelling 2, Jack Barragy 2, Andrew Formanek 3, Kody Kearns 2, Tate Storbeck 21, Carter Backhaus 1, Jaylen DeVries 3, Carson Taebe 22, Jared Penning 6, Ryan Thomas 4.

CHARLES CITY — Jack Molstead 29, JJ Ritter 2, Marcus Cranshaw 10, Colton Slinger 1, Bradley Andrews 11, Justin Heyer 1, Cael Hemesath 2, Tait Arndt 4.