Riverhawks soar over Comets 68-55

Press Staff Report

MASON CITY — With the final three games of their regular-season homestretch all on the road, the Charles City Comets embarked on the first part of the denouement when they traveled to Mason City on Monday night to take on the Riverhawks in a non-conference boys basketball game.

There, the hosts were able to distance themselves from the Comets while outscoring them 34-11 in the second and third quarters on way to a 68-55 Mason City victory.

Riverhawk junior Ty Sanchez-Evans, who was a menace to the Comets during the past football season as an agile and wide-bodied tight end, proved to be just as troublesome if not more on the hardwood court as he led all scorers and rebounders with a 16-16 double-double that included 7-of-9 shooting from the field.

Junior Marcele Whitner and sophomore Owen Rickers each added 15 points for Mason City (9-9).

Charles City (8-11) got 15 points from junior guard Victor Ward, and 11 points from senior Riley Perez, who was 3-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Charles City will travel to Decorah on Friday to take on Northeast Iowa Conference foe and the Class 3A No. 2-ranked Vikings, who had defeated CC 73-44 in Comet Gym on Jan. 10; and then close the regular season the following Tuesday (Feb. 18) at Center Point-Urbana.

Early next week, the Comets will learn of their first-round Class 3A substate opponent when the Iowa High School Athletic Association releases Class 3A and 4A substate brackets on Monday.

MASON CITY 68, CHARLES CITY 55

Scoring By Quarters

Charles City 19 11 10 15 — 55

Mason City 21 18 16 13 — 68

Individual Scoring

CHARLES CITY — Victor Ward 15, Nick Williams 5, Jordin Ritter 6, Henry Ruzicka 7, Riley Perez 11, Xander Graeser 5, Ezekiel Causey 2, Jesus Villagomez 4.

MASON CITY — Jameer Falls 7, Macele Whitner 15, Owen Rickers 15, Drayden Witt 7, Ty Sanchez-Evans 16, Andrew Novak 8.

RECORDS — Charles City 8-11, Mason City 9-9