A Night of High-Flying Hoops: Comets and Falcons Split Thrilling Doubleheader
There’s nothing quite like a Saturday afternoon under the gym lights when the Hillcrest Academy Comets and the Park Christian School Falcons meet on the hardwood. Friends off the court but fierce competitors on it, both schools delivered an evening of basketball that kept fans on the edge of their seats. By the end of the night, the Hillcrest girls had secured a narrow victory, while the Park Christian boys claimed a late-game win of their own—leaving everyone in attendance buzzing about the talent and determination on display.
Girls Comets Hold Off the Falcons, 57-48
With the bleachers packed and anticipation high, the Hillcrest and Park Christian girls tipped off first. The Comets built a slight halftime lead into the breakup by eight points (27-19). But the Falcons refused to fade away, turning up the defensive pressure and making the Comets work for every look at the basket.
“Park Christian played great defense, and we struggled to separate,” Hillcrest head coach Hannah Clark admitted after the game. “We forced some tough passes and took some rushed shots.” Despite those challenges, the Comets dug deep in the closing minutes, putting together just enough of a surge to preserve the win.
Elsa Retzlaff was a force all night, pouring in 23 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and swiping four steals. Ruby Peterson also left her mark on both ends of the court, scoring 12 points while notching five rebounds and four steals. Elin Retzlaff was relentless, attacking the hoop for 11 points in the paint, while Ella Knutson, Kate Olstad, and Aaveah Stender chipped in with timely scoring. Emme Berge added defensive grit with four steals, helping the Comets hold off a late Falcons rally.
Hillcrest emerged with a 57-48 victory when the final buzzer sounded. But even in the win, Coach Clark saw room to grow. “Credit to our girls for making a run when we needed it,” she said. “We’ll keep working to clean up our passing and shot selection.”
Boys Falcons Soar Late to Beat the Comets, 55-49
After the final buzzer from the girls’ game, the intensity on the court continued with the Comet boys working to lock down the Falcon sharpshooters. The Comets grabbed a one-point lead at halftime, and midway through the second half, they extended that advantage to eight. But Park Christian never wavered. In the final six minutes, the Falcons went on an 8-2 run, buoyed by two dagger three-pointers that swung the momentum in their favor.
“Tonight was a battle,” said Comets coach Donavan Rogness. “It was fun to watch our guys compete. Park came ready to play, and we matched their energy. We just couldn’t stop their big shots at the end.”
For Hillcrest, Lincoln Nash led the charge with 15 points, including a scorching 3-for-5 clip from beyond the arc, five rebounds, and three assists. Zane Holmquist added 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals, doing work on both ends of the court. Preston Berge chipped in 10 points, while Ethan Swedberg did the dirty work on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds and contributing 8 points.
Despite a strong effort, the Comets fell 55-49, bringing their record to 6-4. They’ll look to get back on track when they host the Parkers Prairie Panthers on January 14.
Although the Comets and Falcons each came away with one win apiece, the true highlight of the night was the competitive spirit and camaraderie between these two friendly rivals. Fans were treated to scrappy defense, timely shooting, and the kind of atmosphere that only high school sports can bring. With plenty of season left, both squads will continue to refine their games and aim for a strong finish.