Lady Comets Bounce Back in 13 Point Win Over NCE-UH
One night after the Comets gave 2A Pelican Rapids a scare they pulled out a double-digit win at home against NCE-UH. In the game against Pelican, Elsa Retzlaff pulled the Comets within one score, sinking two of her four threes in the final minute. But after Pelican drained a few free throws, and a desperation shot from Hillcrest, the Comets returned home to a game against NCE-UH to close out conference play in 2022.
The Comets smothered the NCE-UH Titans immediately. In the half-court offense, the Titans struggled to find an entry pass opportunity and resolved to pass the ball around the perimeter because the Comets locked down passing lanes and positioned themselves for rebounds. When Hillcrest turned the court to the offense they found early opportunities. Hillcrest shoots well from the perimeter, and that opens entry passes for Comet posts players. After five minutes of play, Hillcrest held a double-digit lead thanks to dominating the defensive glass. At the half, Hillcrest was up 40-27.
The Titans went to work in the second half, chipping the Comet lead down to 10 with five minutes to go pulled the game to within 10. Hillcrest struggled to find good looks at the basket thanks to a Titan zone defense that found Hillcrest flat-footed. The Comets responded with their own zone and turned defense to offense more quickly than the Titans. As the Comets pushed the ball up the court they found the Titans out of position, earning some quick scoring opportunities off inbounds plays earned from Titan fouls.
Hillcrest maintained a ten-point lead after an Elsa Retzlaff step-back-three. While the Titans hung around, they couldn’t out-match Hillcrest’s intensity, despite a series of turnovers and missed shots by the Comets. The Titans simply couldn’t earn buckets on the offensive side, worn out by Hillcrest’s consistent work on the glass.
Hillcrest was led by Madi Foss, who followed nearly every shot in Hillcrest’s gym Tuesday night. Foss pulled down 16 rebounds and owned the paint while boxing out to allow other Comets to scrap for rebounds she couldn’t get to. Madi Ballweg grabbed 8 boards, Ella Knutson 7, and Elsa Retlzaff pulled down four. Hillcrest had 40 boards from their six scorers on the night.
“We did a good job on the boards and didn’t give the Titans many second chance opportunities,” Head Coach Hannah Clark noted. “We struggled on the defensive end and we have some things to clean up, but overall I thought we played a good game.”
Hillcrest was led by Elsa Retzlaff again, who was 5-for-7 behind the arc, earning 19 points for the second consecutive night on the court. “Elsa led us in scoring again, but we also had 4 others in double figures which go to show just how balanced of a team we are,” Coach Clark commented. “The girls moved the ball and played unselfish basketball.”
Madi Ballweg scored 15 while grabbing 8 rebounds, 4 steals and offering up 4 assists. Ella Knutson had 13 points and 7 rebounds, while point guard Ruby Peterson chipped in with 12. Lizzy Olstad had 10 points and 5 boards, and Madi Foss had 4 points and 16 rebounds to round out a full team effort Tuesday night.
Hillcrest closes the 2022 conference play with a 4-2 record, going 2-1 in the conference. They’re one game out of first place, looking to earn a few more wins in a holiday tournament next week before hosting CGB Thursday, January 5 at Hillcrest.