Sindlinger leads Comets in a home battle with Go-Hawks
By Sue Hoefer, Press Correspondent
One thing is for certain there is always emotion and energy when Charles City takes on Waverly-Shell Rock. It doesn’t matter the sport or if it is on the boys’ side of things or the girls’, the meeting is intense between players, coaches and spectators.
Tuesday night in Comet gym was no exception.
This was the Comets’ first game back after Christmas break, during which Coach Rippentrop had her team working on team defense, improving their free throw percentage, and implementing some new offensive plays.
“We had a great week of practice as a team,” she said. “I felt like we had made some good progress and came into tonight’s game ready to play,” Facing the 12th ranked, tall, athletic, more experienced Go Hawks was going to be a quite a test for the Comets in Tuesday’s game. Although the Comets played hard on defense and were more aggressive going to the basket, the Go Hawks walked away with a 57-30 victory.
In the first half of the game, Charles City was holding its own trailing 22-13 in a low scoring half in which both teams were playing solid defense.
“I thought we did a great job of getting some of their key players in foul trouble during the first half,” Rippentrop said. “We needed to do a better job of making our free throws and taking advantage of those situations to take a lead to the locker room instead of being behind.”
Waverly opened the second half with a 10-1 run before the Comets regrouped and trailed 40-27.
It was the fourth quarter that sealed the deal for Waverly. Outscoring Charles City 17-3 in the final 8 minutes of the game.
Charles City senior Jamie Sindlinger entered the night averaging 11 points per game, but had a stellar night with 19 points. She also led the Comets on the boards with 11 rebounds.
Rippentrop was certainly pleased with Sindlinger’s effort.
“Jamie has consistently been a leader for our team this season,” she said. “Her work ethic has yet to be matched by anyone. She is constantly teaching and talking with the other players. Every game she comes ready to play. “The problem is we are asking Jamie to be the best at everything on the court. What we need is other players to step up and play with her.”
Waverly improved to 5-0 in the Northeast Iowa Conference and Charles City is now 1-3 in the conference.
UP NEXT
The Comets are back in action Friday night as they will make the long trek to Waukon to face the Indians who are 2-3 in conference play and 4-7 overall. Tip off is scheduled
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