Comets break free from Bulldogs in the 2nd half for 62-55 win

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

HAMPTON — What’s a good way to beat the press in basketball?

The same way some teams burn blitzes in football … go over the top.

That’s the route Charles City senior Jordin Ritter took when his forward pass hit junior teammate Victor Ward releasing on a “fly pattern” in stride for a punctual one-handed throw-down by the 5-foot-10 Comet guard.

The play even “Wooed! and Wowed!” Hampton-Dumont-CAL’s home crowd during the first half Tuesday’s non-conference boys basketball game between the future North Central Conference foes.

Ironically, it was Ward’s free-throw shooting that quieted the HDC crowd in the waning moments as hit 8 of 9 attempts at the line in the second half while helping the Comets keep the Bulldogs at bay for a 62-55 road victory.

Ward led all scorers with 27 points, and sophomore Henry Ruzicka added 19 points, including 13 in the first half to help the Comets take a 1-point lead (34-33) at intermission.

Charles City amped up the defensive pressure in the second half while outscoring the Bulldogs 15-6 in the third quarter and kept HDC at least two possessions in the rearview mirror for the rest of the game.

The Comets were coming off a 29-point home loss to Class 3A No. 3-ranked Decorah the previous Friday. The Comets gave the undefeated Vikings a challenge through three quarters before Decorah’s substantial height advantage loomed most effectively along the homestretch where the game got away from Charles City.

The Comets faced a similar challenge against the Bulldogs with their resident 6-foot-7 junior forward Brady Harr, who scored 10 of his co-team-high 15 points in the first half.

Harr also displayed his ballhanding skills, including a nice crossover and a spin move, while dribbling out of Charles City’s backcourt press.

Though Harr for the most part eluded the trappers, you got the feeling it was part of Charles City’s strategy to get Harr to handle the ball 70 to 80 feet from his basket before being forced to give it up before or shortly after crossing the timeline.

Tramaine Horton and Caden Woods also scored 15 for HDC (3-7).

Charles City will be back in action on Friday for a road game at Waverly-Shell Rock — both the Comets and Go-Hawks are 5-5 overall this season.

CHARLES CITY 62, HAMPTON-DUMONT-CAL 55

Scoring By Quarters

Charles City 17 17 15 13 — 62

Hampton-Dumont-Cal 20 13 6 16 — 55

Individual Scoring

CHARLES CITY — Victor Ward 27, Nick Williams 6, Jordin Ritter 4, Henry Ruzicka 19, Riley Perez 4, Jesus Villagomez 2.

HAMPTON-DUMONT-CAL — Tramaine Horton 15, Aeden Keehn 7, Caden Woods 15, Connor MIller 4, Brady Harr 15.

RECORDS — Charles City 5-5, Hampton-Dumont-CAL 3-7