Comets Dig Deep, Outlast Border West in Gritty 59-57 Battle

In one of the toughest matchups they’ll face all season, the Hillcrest Comets Boys showed tremendous intensity and resolve Tuesday night, staving off a late surge from the physical Border West Buccaneers to secure a thrilling 59-57 home victory. Both teams expended every ounce of energy in a contest that demanded mental sharpness and physical endurance from tipoff to the final buzzer.

The Comets burst out to a 37-25 halftime lead, thanks in large part to senior Preston Berge, who exploded for 20 of his career-high 25 points in the opening half. Hillcrest’s momentum was punctuated by junior Kian Stender beating the clock on a backdoor layup with just two seconds left before intermission.

Despite the Buccaneers’ second-half comeback—led by standout senior guard Holden Rinke (19 points)—the Comets relied on their trademark resilience and turned up the defensive intensity. Juniors Drew Fisher and Sean Berge combined to frustrate Rinke in the game’s critical moments, helping Hillcrest maintain its narrow edge.

When the Buccaneers mounted a final rally late in the fourth quarter, junior Lincoln Nash delivered two clutch three-pointers in the closing minutes to keep Border West at bay. Nash finished with 12 points on the night, while Hillcrest head coach Donavan Rogness applauded the team’s readiness to fight through adversity:

“This game was another example of our team playing together well on the defensive end and doing enough offensively in critical moments to hold off a very physical and solid team in Border West. We had some pre-game and in-game injuries we worked through, and the boys dealt with that adversity well tonight. I am proud to be their coach.”

With the victory, Hillcrest emerged from a grueling showdown against one of the region’s most formidable opponents, proving the Comets’ mettle under pressure. They look to carry this momentum forward on Thursday night when they host the New York Mills Eagles in Fergus Falls, which promises to be another high-intensity game where both squads carry balanced scoring and tenacious defense.