Trojans outrun Comet girls, 58-46

Charles City boys rally past Crestwood, 62-52, to stay undefeated in NEIC

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Though she’s a multiple state and Drake Relays track champion, Waterloo East’s Kerris Roberts doesn’t run at one speed.

Especially in the open court.

The Trojan guard tends to bring the ball up at a moderate pace before switching gears to a blow-by-you pace while addling defenders already on their heels. It’s was a ploy mastered by Derrick Rose before he blew out his wheels.

When Roberts burst to the hole to finish a break before the buzzer, it gave her team a 20-8 lead over hosting Charles City through the first quarter. It also gave her 1,000 points for a career, a mean feat in itself for any prep hoopster, but even meaner for a junior.

But even backed by athletic teammates, Roberts and company didn’t run the Comets out of Comet Gym. Charles City managed to hang within striking distance for the remainder of the game, and were a “run” away themselves from making things interesting.

But they couldn’t catch the Trojans, which won Tuesday’s non-conference contest, 58-46.

Roberts finished the night with a game-high 28 points.

The Comets (0-16) placed two players in double-figures with junior Jodie Sindlinger leading the way with 12 points, and Kara Hoffman adding 11, which included three 3-pointers.

* Meanwhile in Cresco, the Charles City boys team was down 37-33 going into the fourth quarter against Crestwood before — like the aforementioned Roberts — shifting gears into overdrive to outscore the Cadets 29-15 in the final eight minutes to win 62-52.

Comet senior Cade Hemesath led the belated charge with 16 points. Mike Cranshaw scored 14, Noah Schlader scored 13, and sophomore Bradley Andrews recorded his second-straight double-figure game with 12 points for the Comets, who improved to 14-2 and remain undefeated (9-0) in the Northeast Iowa Conference.

Clayton Ollendieck had 15 points to lead the Cadets.

Boys Basketball

CHARLES CITY 62, CRESTWOOD 52

Scoring By Quarters

CHARLES CITY 17 10 6 29 — 62

CRESTWOOD 15 11 11 15 — 52

CHARLES CITY (62)

Jack Molstead 5, Mike Cranshaw 14, Colton Slinger 2, Bradley Andrews 12, Noah Schlader 13, Cade Hemesath 16.

CRESTWOOD (52)

Zach Lane 6, Kristian Szajna 6, Jacob Andera 2, Nathan Martinek 12, Clayton Ollendieck 15, Carter Henry 8, Boston Ferrie 2.

Girls Basketball

WATERLOO EAST, 58,

CHARLES CITY 46

Scoring By Quarters

WATERLOO EAST 20 14 12 12 — 58

CHARLES CITY 8 14 13 11 — 46

WATERLOO EAST (58)

Kerris Roberts 28, Danae Nash 5, Jaida Blair 6, Nia Crowley 9, Ma’Kaiyla Johnson 4, Jessica Hyde 2, Shamya Jenkins 2, Charnika Cherry 2.

CHARLES CITY (46)

Jodie Sindlinger 12, Kara Hoffman 11, Lynn Hoeft 2, Danielle Stock 5, Payton Reams 7, Olivia Zuspan 3, Sadie Gebel 6.