Hillcrest Soars to 74-36 Win Behind Stifiling Defense

The Comet Boys stormed onto their home court for the first time this season, unleashing a thrilling display of grit and determination in a commanding 74-36 victory over the Battle Lake Battlers. From the opening whistle to the final buzzer, the Comets left no doubt that they came to outwork their opponents.

The drama began in the locker room, where Coach Donavan Rogness challenged his team to make Battle Lake fight for every single possession. The Comets responded with fire in their eyes and a determined resolve. Emerging from the locker room at halftime with a 13-point lead, they turned up the intensity to an entirely new level. On the first two possessions of the second half, the Battlers found themselves tangled in a web of suffocating defense, barely beating the shot clock. And that was just the beginning.

Turnover after turnover fell into the hands of the relentless Comets, who seized control of the game with an explosive start to the second half and never looked back. The defensive clinic held the Battlers to a mere 14 points in the second half, showcasing the Comets’ signature combination of discipline and hustle.

Coach Rogness shared admiration for the team’s performance. “The boys came out and played with intensity for 36 minutes and really executed on a full team win,” Rogness said. “All 10 varsity players got minutes, scored, and contributed in a meaningful way tonight.”

The spark for the Comets came from Sean Berge, who electrified the home crowd with a dazzling 23-point performance, including four long-range three-pointers that left the Battlers scrambling. Ethan Swedberg added to the offensive firepower, scoring 14 points and solidifying the team’s balanced attack.

With the victory, the Comets even their record at 1-1 and set their sights on Thursday night’s Little Eight Conference showdown against the Hancock Owls.