Comets battle in two weekend losses

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Comets battle in two weekend losses

Skills, chemistry among keys in practice this week

After a pair of close losses this weekend for the Comets, head coach Danielle Rippentrop will continue to stress the importance of an in sync team as the conference opponents appear on the schedule.

Friday night’s 54-38 loss was the first of the conference season for the Comets.

They’ll have one shot at an NEIC win against Oelwein on Dec. 18 at home to move their mark to 2-1. But it’ll take some teamwork to get them there.

“We’re getting better every single game,” Rippentrop said. “It’s just going to come to playing together. We’ve got some team leaders on the team, like (senior) Jamie Sindlinger, who are stepping up for us.”

Sindlinger had a double-double Friday night, recording 21 points and 17 rebounds, Rippentrop said.

Freshmen players Sami Heyer and Jodie Sindlinger will be sought to have key roles in this year’s team.

Heyer, the Comets’ leading point guard, will have to learn to focus in throughout the whole game, Rippentrop said, in order to lead the Comets to where they want to go.

“Sami is doing a good job, she just needs to get her mind right in the first half,” Rippentrop said. “She usually goes a little harder, more aggressive in the second half, but she needs to do that in the first half as well.”

It’s just going to take time and confidence for the Comets to find a groove that will help them flow throughout the season.

The Comet head to Oelwein for their next contest on Dec. 18, tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

By Stephen Koenigsfeld sports@charlescitypress.com