Comets Ride Wave of Tenacious Defense in 76-34 Win

The Comet Boys are finding their stride, powered by a resilient defense that relies on help defense and quick passes. Through the past week of Basketball, fans witnessed a Comet team coming together. In Tuesday night’s home showdown against the New York Mills Eagles, the Comets’ energetic start and unrelenting pressure forced 20 turnovers—15 of them in the first half alone—helping Hillcrest jump out to an 18-point lead. At the final buzzer, the Comets locked up a 76-34 victory behind their suffocating defense, holding the Eagles to just 14 points in the second half.

On offense, Hillcrest showcased quick ball movement that kept New York Mills guessing. Crisp passes fueled a balanced attack, highlighted by Sean Berge’s 23-point outburst. Sean’s brother, Preston Berge, added 15 points, while Ethan Swedberg chipped in 12, all benefiting from the Comets’ unselfish play.

Head coach Donavan Rogness commended his team for cleaning up their own turnovers—reducing 12 giveaways in the first half to just two in the second—and praised their on-the-fly adjustments.

“We took care of the ball in the second half and controlled the pace of the game well,” Rogness said. “I really liked the way our boys executed the halftime adjustments and played half-court defense to control the end of the game.”

With the win, the Comets move to 6-3 on the season, riding a wave of momentum that stems from a tenacious defense and unselfish passing. They look to build on their progress Saturday when they host the Park Christian Falcons at 6:00 p.m., eager to showcase their deepening chemistry in another thrilling home contest.