Comets can’t catch state-ranked Falcons 76-64

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — On Thursday, the Charles City Comets rode a comeback wave in the fourth quarter to overtake Crestwood on the road while avenging a home loss to the Cadets less than a week before.

To keep that momentum going with the postseason looming, the Comets would need another late surge to catch visiting Aplington-Parkersburg the following night.

The Comets were able to outscore the Class 2A state-ranked Falcons 23-15 in the fourth quarter, but the Falcons had too many weapons they could rely on to get needed baskets to keep their distance while winning 76-64.

Falcon junior Jayden Mackie helped A-P take a 43-26 lead into the locker room while hitting three of his four 3-point field goals in the first half before eventually topping out at 17 points.

Garrett Hempen and Gavin Thomas also were in double-figures for the Falcons (18-3) with 16 and 13 points, respectively.

Charles City (8-12) was led scoring-wise by sophomore Chase Low, who had a game-high 21 points.

Low is likely among the state leaders in slam-dunk field goals, but he also has a nice finger-roll while finishing near the rim after taking defenders off the dribble, which he did repeatedly against the Falcons on Friday night.

Jose Hernandez scored 16 points off the bench, and JJ Ritter scored 13 while going eight-of-eight at the free throw line.

Ritter, Kaden Barry, Jeremiah Chapman and Cael Ruzicka were all honored before the varsity game as part of the team’s “Senior Night”.

Also honored at Comet Gym was senior cross-country/track/wrestling standout Kiki Connell, who earlier that night signed her letter-of-intent to continue her XC and track careers at the University of Northern Iowa.

Connell, Lilly Luft and Ava Thompson were also honored at halftime for their performances at the Iowa Wrestling Officials and Coaches Association Girls State Tournament held in Coralville last month.

Connell and sophomore Luft both emerged state champions; Thompson, a freshman who went out for wrestling for the first time this past season, placed in her heavyweight bracket after defeating a girl in her final bout who had beaten her three times before.

Earlier in the junior varsity game between the two schools, Aplington-Parkersburg won 55-34.

Boy Varsity

APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG 76, CHARLES CITY 64

Scoring By Quarters

AP 23 20 18 15 — 76

CC 14 12 15 23 — 64

APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG — Jayden Mackie 17, Gavin Thomas 12, Garrett Hempen 16, Josh Haan 9, Owen Thomas 8, Elijah Switzer 6, Cooper Hoff 5, Christian Haugstad 3.

CHARLES CITY — JJ Ritter 13, Jose Hernandez 16, Chase Low 21, Hunter Sullivan 2, Kaden Barry 3, Jeremiah Chapman 6.

Records — Charles City 8-12, Aplington-Parkersburg 18-3