Comets Spread Scoring in Elevating Over The Chargers Late-game Surge
The Comets continued their late-season surge Friday night, traveling to Brandon to take on the Brandon-Evansville Chargers in their newly built gym. Hillcrest showcased the balanced scoring that has become their calling card this year, filling stat lines with multiple players while also delivering another formidable defensive performance. Their ability to share the wealth on both ends of the score earned a 37-19 halftime lead and carried them to a 53-45 victory despite a late-game push from the Chargers.
“We came out ready to play tonight and did an excellent job with our defensive intensity, ball containment, and working together on that end,” Coach Donavan Rogness noted after the game. “Offensively, we moved the ball well and got great inside-out looks for three. We struggled a bit in the second half once they turned up the physicality, which forced some turnovers and sped us up against their zone. Still, I’m proud of how the boys upheld one of our team boulders: Never Being Outworked.”
Coming off a season in which the Comets relied heavily on two leading scorers, this year’s squad has found its stride by involving teammates in the scoring column, and that versatility was on full display. Junior Kian Stender sparked the first-half surge, drilling three triples, finishing the game with 11 points. The Comets collectively went 7-for-11 from beyond the arc in the opening half, a testament to their growing confidence and willingness to share the ball. Meanwhile, juniors Drew Fisher and Zane Holmquist set the tone defensively, holding their matchups in check and generating transition opportunities.
Senior Sean Berge led all scorers with 14 points, but the night's story was the Comets’ multi-pronged attack. With new faces consistently stepping into open space and hitting shots, Hillcrest has become increasingly difficult to defend. The Comets are peaking at just the right time, building momentum as the regular season winds down and the playoffs loom on the horizon. Their defensive prowess has anchored them all year, but the newfound creativity on offense gives them an added edge.
The win lifts Hillcrest to 11-5 on the season and keeps them undefeated in the Little Eight Conference. The Comets will look to carry this balanced offensive rhythm and stingy defense into Monday night’s road clash against the Rothsay Tigers.