By halftime, Hillcrest held a 31–23 lead. Coach Hannah Clark noted how proud she was of her squad’s execution, saying, “They are an unselfish group of girls who continue to buy into their roles for the success of the team.” True to that statement, several Comets contributed after the break. With Underwood keying in on Elsa, senior guard Elin Retzlaff shouldered the scoring load in the second half, attacking the rim with confidence and pouring in a game-high 19 points.

Although the Comets and Falcons each came away with one win apiece, the true highlight of the night was the competitive spirit and camaraderie between these two friendly rivals. Fans were treated to scrappy defense, timely shooting, and the kind of atmosphere that only high school sports can bring. With plenty of season left, both squads will continue to refine their games and aim for a strong finish.

In yet another standout performance that underscores why they’re one of the top teams in the state, Hillcrest Comets Girls Basketball cruised past Rothsay with a dominant 72–36 victory. From the opening whistle, Hillcrest’s was fueled by more than a solid game plan and talented athletes. On any given night, any one of the Comets players can step up at a key moment to fuel the team to pull away. It reveals their incredible trust in each other and an unwavering resolve to band together for a common purpose.

In a game where most things that have come naturally all season suddenly felt difficult, the Hillcrest Comet Girls leaned on their unity, resiliency, and gritty possession-by-possession focus to secure a 78–56 victory over a determined Parkers squad.

One night after the Comets gave 2A Pelican Rapids a scare they pulled out a double-digit win at home against NCE-UH. In the game against Pelican, Elsa Retzlaff pulled the Comets within one score, sinking two of her four threes in the final minute. But after Pelican drained a few free throws, and a desperation shot from Hillcrest, the Comets returned home to a game against NCE-UH to close out conference play in 2022.

“We moved the ball well on offense which led to good, quality shots,” Head Coach Hannah Clark noted. “I thought Ruby Peterson did a nice job directing our team.  She is the engine on our team and the rest of our girls really follow her direction and energy.” Peterson provided 14 points and added 4 assists in the win.

“It was a great night of basketball,” Coach Clark said, beaming from the challenge her girls were giving Hancock, the 2022 state champion. “I was so proud of how hard the girls competed.”

The Lady Comets start the season on the road this year, behind a strong set of returners and a pair of electric newcomers that will build on successes in girls sports at Hillcrest this year.