The Comets opened Tuesday night’s game in a dynamic fashion with the Titans. The two teams mustered four threes each, trading blow for blow in the first two minutes of the game that led many to think the contest would be a shootout. But after Hillcrest’s defense tighten on the perimeter, the under matched Titans struggle to keep pace in a half-court offense, and the Comets pulled to a double-digit lead and never looked back.

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.

Hillcrest entered the 2022-23 season with a younger, less experienced team compared to recent years. “We need to continue to develop our emotional maturity and composure overall,” Head Coach Ryan Garvin noted after earning their second win. The Comets are employing several methods to build those qualities that bear fruit beyond the scoreboard.

The Comets made an abysmal 1-of-13 shots from 3-point territory in the first half, but their defense was smothering, keeping Brandon-Evansville in check Thursday night to earn Hillcrest a 72-60 victory.

“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.

The new-look Hillcrest boys sprinted through their first game. After leaping to a 12-0 lead, they ran into halftime with the scoreboard reading 54-23. The thrill of being on the court again was too much for the Comets to contain, unleashing a barrage of scoring opportunities and a plethora of thrilling scoring plays.