Comet freshman Molstead makes Sub-state team

Hemesath and Gebel each Northeast Iowa Conference selections

By John Burbridge, sports@charlescitypress.com

It happens. It just doesn’t happen very often.

“Every once in awhile a freshman will make the team,” Charles City boys basketball coach Todd Forsyth said of Northeast Iowa Conference first-team selections, “but when you talk about All Sub-state, that includes players from programs like Waverly and Wahlert.

“For a freshman to make that team … that’s pretty special.”

Charles City freshman Jackson Molstead earned the distinction of being the only ninth-grader to be named the NEIC first team and the Class 3A Sub-state (Region 3) team.

“To be chosen for those proves that you’ve earned the respect from the coaches you’ve played against,” Forsyth said of the 5-foot-10 point guard Molstead, who led the Comets in scoring (15.5 ppg), assists (111 total) and free throws made and attempted.

There were no freshman listed on the NEIC second team, but there was one sophomore: Comet 6-foot-4 power forward Cade Hemesath.

“He’s a well-rounded player,” Forsyth said. “You look at our stats, and you’ll see he’s up there in about every category.”

Hemesath was Charles City’s top rebounder with 124 total, and led the team with 22 blocked shots. Hemesath also shot 54.3 percent from the field while averaging 9.5 ppg.

Charles City senior Brandt Gebel was named NEIC honorable mention.

“Brandt put in a lot of hard work,” Forsyth said of the 6-foot-4 frontliner who often came off the bench. “He was one of our senior leaders, and came through for us throughout the year.”

The Comets finished the season at 8-13 after losing to Waverly-Shell Rock in the first round of the Class 3A District 5 tournament.

“We lost a lot of close games,” Forsyth said. “We’re hoping in the future our young guys will move forward and finish those games off.”

Northeast Conference

Boys Basketball

All-Conference Selections

First Team

Tristan Bohr (Crestwood, Sr.)

Austin Phyfe (Waverly-SR, Jr.)

Camry Moore (Waverly-SR, Sr.)

Haden Hammel (Waukon, Sr.)

Jackson Molstead (Charles City, Fr.)

Matt Mulford (New Hampton, Sr.)

Spencer Cuvelier (Crestwood, Jr.)

Second Team

Lowden Rockweiler (Decorah, Jr.)

Andrew Epley (Waverly-SR, Sr.)

Brock Berns (Waukon, Sr.)

Alex Kerian (Crestwood, Jr.)

Cade Hemesath (Charles City, So.)

John Stensland (Waverly-SR, Jr.)

Peyton Hesse (Waukon, Sr.)

Honorable Mention

Matt Goodman (Crestwood, Sr.)

Payton Stock (Decorah, Sr.)

Dominique Robertson (Oelwein, Fr.)

Keegan John (New Hampton, So.)

Brandt Gebel (Charles City, So.)

Wyatt Willie (Waukon, Sr.)

Nicholas Bockman (Decorah, So.)

Class 3A All Sub-state (Region 3)

Cordell Pemsl (Wahlert, Sr.)

Tristan Bohr (Crestwood, Sr.)

Austin Phyfe (Waverly-SR, Jr.)

Camry Moore (Waverly-SR, Sr.)

John Nagle (West Delaware, Jr.)

David Wedewer (Wahlert, Sr.)

Jackson Molstead (Charles City, Fr.)