Comet girls get caught in a zone, lose to North Fayette Valley, 56-42

By Sue Hoefer

Press Correspondent

WEST UNION — The Comet girls basketball team traveled east on Tuesday night to face the North Fayette Valley Tigerhawks in non-conference action.

Both teams were looking to get things going with just a few weeks left in the regular season before post-season play begins.

In the first quarter, the Comets came out ready to play having had a few days off without practice due to the snowstorm. Charles City jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start and were up 9-5 after the first.

In the second quarter, the TigerHawks came out in a box-and-one defense to contain Comet senior Jamie Sindlinger by taking the ball out of her hands, forcing other Comets to step up offensively.

Holding the Comet offense at bay and getting into its own rhythm, North Fayette Valley outscored the Comets 20-7 and took a 25-16 lead into the locker room.

In the third quarter, Taylor Hoffman stepped up for the Comets to provide some much needed offense.

Taking advantage of the zone defense, Hoffman found open spots along the perimeter and drained four 3-point field goals in the third quarter.

The Tigerhawks definitely noticed Hoffman.  After her shooting streak, NFV switched up defenses again to a triangle-and-two defense, now focusing on Sindlinger and Hoffman.

That defensive switch was enough to finish the game for the Tigerhawks.  They picked up the 56-42 victory over the Comets when the final buzzer sounded.

Hoffman was the leading scorer for Charles City with 18 points, all coming from six 3-pointers. Sindlinger added 14.

Coach Danielle Rippentrop was pleased with both girls,

“Taylor was on tonight,” Rippentrop said. “She did a great job of shooting the ball for us.  She took advantage of the times the zone defense lost her and made her shots.

“Jaime handled the defense well tonight.  When she did get the ball she was aggressive to the basket and found ways to get to the free throw line.”

Tonight the Comets are back in action facing the Waukon Indians at 7:30 p.m.

A reminder that is also “Sarcoma Awareness Night” in honor of Amy Boley Heiter and the team would like people to wear yellow to raise awareness.