Vikings take 2 from Comets

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — Sometimes being the home team has its advantages.

Like when you’re trailing for most of the game — even as much as 13 at halftime — then suddenly pull within 1 with a nice run shortly before the fourth quarter.

The partisan home crowd suddenly has an excuse to make noise to enhance the momentum and to further rattle the addled visitors.

When Charles City junior Kaden Barry snared a Decorah backcourt pass and promptly cashed in a layup, it drew the Comets within 1 (51-50) late in the third quarter.

But Decorah was able to regroup after a timeout and went on a 10-0 run capped by Matthew Franzen’s 3-pointer.

With that second-wind, the Vikings sailed to a 76-59 victory, slapping the Comets with their first NEIC loss of the season.

Franzen led all scorers with 26 points, and Logan Halverson added 16 for the Vikings, who improved to 9-3 overall and 5-1 in the NEIC.

Charles City senior Bradley Andrews, attacking from beyond the arc as well as above the rim, scored 24 for the Comets, which also got 15 points apiece from juniors Barry and JJ Ritter.

Charles City fell to 6-5 and 6-1.

* In the previous girls varsity game, Decorah freshman Bryar Duwe scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Vikings past the Comets 43-33.

The win improved Decorah’s overall record to 9-5 while evening its NEIC record at 4-4.

Maintaining the hot hand from beyond the 3-point arc, Charles City senior Mackenzy Bilharz led the Comet varsity team in scoring for the first time in her high school career with 11 points while coming off the bench.

Charles City also got 6 points apiece from seniors Liz Fiser and Lynn Hoeft.

The Comets fell to 4-11 and 1-6.

Girls Varsity
DECORAH 43, CHARLES CITY 33
Scoring By Quarters
DEC 12 10 9 12 — 43
CC 5 8 10 10 — 33
Individual Scoring
DECORAH — Ambria Pipho 7, Kylah Quandahl 3, Abigail Milburn 2, Amanda Kuehner 7, Bryar Duwe 18, Emma Nierengarten 7
CHARLES CITY — Lynn Hoeft 6, Dani Stock 4, Rachel Chambers 2, Liz Fiser 6, Mackenzy Bilharz11, Lauren Connell 2
Boys Varsity
DECORAH 76, CHARLES CITY 59
Scoring By Quarters
DEC 16 23 14 23 — 76
CC 12 14 24 9 — 59
Individual Scoring
DECORAH — Joseph Bockman 12, Charles Robinson 9, Patrick Bockman 8, Matthew Franzen 26, Logan Halverson 16, Andrew Magner 4
CHARLES CITY — JJ Ritter 15, Ian Collins 2, Mario Hoefer 1, Chase Low 2, Bradley Andrews 24, Kaden Barry 15