Cadets rally past Comets

By Erik Hoefer, Press Correspondent

CHARLES CITY — From mid-September through the end of December each year, football is a staple on Thursday nights. Both a college game and an NFL game are featured on multiple networks during Thursday nights in the fall.

Now that the football season is over with the Super Bowl having been played, this particular Thursday night was one meant for basketball. High school basketball!

The Iowa Falls-Alden Cadets came to Comet Gym to face Charles City in a nonconference match-up last night, and the Cadets rallied late to defeat the Comets 66-61.

The game did not start well for the home team. Iowa Falls-Alden scored the first ten points of the contest before Mike Cranshaw got the Comets on the board with a jumper in the lane.

The Cadets kept their early momentum going and led 17-9 after one quarter.

The Comets started to slowly reel the Cadets back in during the second. A Cranshaw steal and layup, a Brandt Gebel spinning left-handed banker, a Jack Molstead driving lay-in, and a Noah Schlader three brought Charles City within 29-25 at the half.

Charles City’s third quarter was terrific offensively, but somewhat frustrating defensively.

The Comets outscored the Cadets 23-15 in the quarter. Cade Henesath started it off with a power lay-up, Cranshaw hit three three-pointers and scored on two drives, Jaden Foster added a lay-up, and Schlader and Molstead hit threes.

The defense, though? Too many fouls! Charles City committed ten team fouls during those eight minutes, and Iowa Falls-Alden made their way to the charity stripe several times. The Cadets thwarted the Comet momentum with those free points, and the fourth quarter still needed to be played.

And that final period wasn’t much better for the Comets. The Cadets scored ten of the first twelve points of the quarter, Comet shots wouldn’t fall, Iowa Falls-Alden attempted free throw after free throw, and the Comets simply couldn’t get over the hump.

“We didn’t shoot well,” lamented Comet boys head coach Todd Forsyth. “This was a game we were expecting to win. We got behind early and became a bit tentative. We just couldn’t fully make up for and overcome that slow start.

“We really prefer to play a zone defense,” Forsyth continued, “but we needed more energy after falling behind early. As a result, we tried some things that we normally aren’t used to doing. There were times where it paid off and other times where it didn’t.”

Cranshaw led the Comets with 26 points, Schlader had twelve, Molstead netted ten, Hemesath had five, and Gebel and Shane Feller each had four.

With the victory, Iowa Falls-Alden improves to 3-17 on the year. Charles City drops to 7-12 overall.

It all leads to the final regular season game of the year tonight. Fellow NEIC foe Decorah (8-11 overall) comes to Comet Gym for senior night and the opportunity to honor former Comet Greg Brunner.

It’ll be a good test for us,” Forsyth mentioned of Decorah. “I think we’ll bounce back against them. We’ll come with more energy, more focus, and we’ll play well.

“I’m glad we get to play again right away,” said Forsyth. “We’ll regroup and come back against the Vikings.”

And it’s a Friday night! No football is left, just more exciting basketball.