Comets Leap Over LPA’s Late Game Surge

The Hillcrest Comets proved their resilience on Tuesday night, grinding out a 65-53 victory over a well-prepared and disciplined Lake Park-Audubon team. Coming off an impressive win last week, the Comets had to dig deep, shaking off sluggish moments to outlast a team that thrives on defensive pressure and disciplined execution.

LPA’s ability to clog passing lanes and anticipate Hillcrest’s ball movement posed an early challenge, making offensive rhythm difficult to establish. However, head coach Donny Rogness' emphasis on strong defensive fundamentals became the Comets’ remedy. Even when the offense stalled, Hillcrest’s defense sat down, anticipated plays, and forced LPA into tough, contested shots. The defensive grit, combined with patient perimeter play, eventually opened up scoring opportunities.

“LPA is a team that doesn’t give you much room, and they make you work for everything. Our defense gave us the foundation we needed to push through,” noted Comet’s coach Donovan Rogness.

The Comets leaned on their outside shooting to stretch LPA’s defense, showing patience in their ball movement despite the shot clock winding down. Their ability to shift the defense with crisp perimeter passing allowed for small creases to attack the basket and convert key opportunities.

Ethan Swedberg led the charge with a dominant 16-point performance, controlling the boards and setting the defensive tone. Sean Berge remained steady under pressure, knocking down 7-of-10 from the free-throw line and finishing with 15 points to help secure the win. Kian Stender provided an essential spark off the bench with 10 points, while Lincoln Nash contributed 11, showcasing the Comets’ depth.

With this victory, Hillcrest moves to 19-6 on the season, reinforcing their ability to overcome adversity through disciplined defense and patient execution. They look to carry this momentum into their final regular-season matchup on Friday against Mahnomen-Waubun.