Hillcrest Overwhelms Frazee with Relentless Pressure in Playoff Opener

The Hillcrest Comets stormed into the postseason with a frenetic pace, overwhelming Frazee in a 67-52 victory in the first round of the Sub-Section 6A North playoffs. Hillcrest played with relentless energy from the opening tip, pressing the tempo and jumping out to a 14-4 lead in the first four minutes. The Comets were locked in, suffocating Frazee with defensive pressure that forced them into deep looks, bumping up to the shot clock buzzer.

Despite Hillcrest’s defensive control, Frazee refused to go quietly. As the Comets' offense cooled late in the first half, the Hornets clawed their way back, slowly chipping away at the deficit. Hillcrest’s shot-making stalled, and Frazee took advantage, pulling within one just before halftime. But while the Hornets had managed to close the gap, they had spent nearly every ounce of energy doing so. Hillcrest had forced them into an exhausting first half, making every possession a battle and sending them to the locker room drained.

After the break, the Comets reloaded and came out firing. They unleashed a relentless second-half attack, fueled by sharpshooting and defensive pressure that ran through three waves of substitutions. Preston Berge erupted after halftime, scoring 16 points in the second half, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Sean Berge added 14, Lincoln Nash contributed 13, and Kian Stender tacked on 10 as Hillcrest executed with precision.

Frazee played disciplined basketball, but they couldn't match the Comets’ unyielding defensive intensity. Hillcrest’s pressure defense locked down the Hornets’ offensive rhythm, and Frazee's legs got heavier as the game wore on. Meanwhile, Hillcrest capitalized on Frazee’s foul trouble, knocking down 22-of-27 free throws and pulled away down the stretch.

Comet head coach Donovan Rogness noted his team’s discipline: “I was really proud of how our guys responded after halftime—our energy and execution were much better. Drew Fisher played a key role with his defensive ball pressure, and Ethan (Swedberg) was a force on the boards. Preston was incredibly efficient offensively in the second half and really led us there. We’re excited for the opportunity to play again Saturday in Perham.”

With the win, Hillcrest extends its winning streak to eight games and advances to the subsection semifinals. The Comets will face top-seeded Ada-Borup on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Perham.