Trojans outlast Comet girls; CC boys use second-half surge for second-straight win over Oelwein

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — If you had a vested interest into the fortunes of the Waterloo East girls basketball team, you might have been concerned during several junctures of its non-conference road game Tuesday against Charles City.

Throughout the game, the Trojans seemed to be on the verge of blowing it open with their slashing offense and sticky on-ball defense. But the Comets managed to hang around and wouldn’t go away, consistently cutting double-digit deficits into one or two-possession margins.

But in the final three minutes of regulation, the Trojans pulled away to a 64-46 victory.

Sophomore Kerris Roberts scored a game-high 30 points to lead Waterloo East (5-12), which also got 18 points from Amanee Clark.

Roberts was a force on offense, and at times a menace on defense. But when she picked up her fourth foul early in the second half the Comets tried to take advantage while making several comeback runs.

Comet senior Kelsi Crooks had 16 points and sophomore Jodie Sindlinger scored 13 as Charles City fell to 1-15 for the season.

The Comets’ next game is at home Thursday when they host North Fayette Valley.

Earlier, the Comets junior varsity girls basketball vied for its second victory of the season while taking on Waterloo East JV team.

Like the varsity Comets, Charles City’s juniors trailed throughout most of the game but managed to stay within striking distance before losing, 40-32.

Mackenzy Bilharz and Lynn Hoeft led the Comets with 8 and 6 points, respectively.

* Meanwhile in Oelwein, the Charles City boys basketball team got off to a sluggish start — scoring a season-low 14 points in the first half — before breaking loose in the second half on a way to a 53-47 victory.

For the Comets (11-4, 6-3 Northeast Iowa Conference), it was the second of back-to-back victories over the sometimes pesky Huskies (3-15, 0-9).

“Kids battled through a tough shooting night and we were able to grind out the win,” Comet coach Ben Klapperich said. “They threw a triangle and two at us, and it took us a while to adjust to that.

“We were getting good looks in the first half, but the shots weren’t falling.”

Comet sophomore Jack Molstead scored 22 of his game-high 24 points in the second half.

“Mike Cranshaw also did a good job dishing the ball for us,” said Klapperich, whose team again was without the services of junior star Cade Hemesath, who is nursing a bum ankle.

“We had a few players who did a nice job stepping in and filling (Hemesath’s) absence,” Klapperich said. “Hopefully, we can have him back by Thursday. Even playing at 70 percent, Cade can help us.”

The Comet boys will travel to North Fayette Valley on Thursday before returning home Friday to host Waukon.

Girls Basketball

WATERLOO EAST 64, CHARLES CITY 46

Scoring By Quarters

Waterloo East 14 18 12 19 — 64

Charles City 7 17 9 13 — 46

WATERLOO EAST — Denae Nash 5, Amanee Clark 18, Kerris Roberts 30, Rayla Rayn 2, Taleigha Watson 3, Selena Collier 6.

CHARLES CITY — Kelsi Crooks 16, Bailey Mitchell 6, Olivia Zuspan 6, Cinnamon Evans 4, Gen Wandro 3, Jodie Sindlinger 13.

Boys Basketball

CHARLES CITY 53, OELWEIN 47

Scoring By Quarters

Charles City 10 4 15 24 — 53

Oelwein 11 4 7 25 — 47

CHARLES CITY — Jack Molstead 24, Mike Cranshaw 6, Noah Schlader 6, Tre Walker 9, Jaden Foster 4, Elliott Gebel 2, Mike Andrews 2.

OELWEIN — Dillon Arndt 11, Hunter Logan 5, Dom Robertson 15, Tyler Hefel 2, Steven Nicolay 10, Hunter Smock 4.