Charles City drops season-opener against DNH 79-61

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

DIKE — In football, a game’s status is often defined as being one- or two-possession.

In their boys basketball season opener Tuesday at Dike-New Hartford, the Charles City Comets managed to get within one or two possessions while chasing the Wolverines throughout the entire game.

But whenever they appeared a little too big in the rearview mirror, the Wolverines responded with a little more weight on the accelerator to regain comfortable distance as the Comets lost on the road 79-61.

DNH, which had four double-figure scorers, was led by Class 2A All-Stater Dane Fuller, who had a game-high 29 points.

Two-time All-Northeast Iowa Conference shooting guard JJ Ritter paced the Comets with 27 points which included three 3-point field goals.

The Comets were plagued by foul-trouble as starting junior forward Mario Hoefter picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter shortly before Jeremiah Chapman picked up his fourth.

The Wolverines had built a double-digit lead at the time, but the Comets managed to surge back as Ritter’s 3-point shot drew them within 5 (49-44).

But Ritter soon picked up his fourth foul with 5:44 left in regulation.

While taking advantage of wounded prey, the Wolverines became more aggressive on their offensive possessions with hard drives against the troubled Comets.

Jose Hernandez, who had the only other 3-point field goal for the Comets, and Hoefer each scored 9 points for Charles City, who will host Algona on Saturday in the tail end of the girls-boys varsity doubleheader.

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD 79, CHARLES CITY 61

Scoring By Quarters

CHARLES CITY 12 15 18 16 — 61

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD 16 15 23 25 — 79

CHARLES CITY — JJ Ritter 27, Jose Hernandez 9, Mario Hoefer 9, Kaden Barry 7, Jeremiah Chapman 1.

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD — AJ Wegener 12, Nathan Moore 10, Zak Wauters 11, Jacob Stuckchak 3, Landen Sullivan 10, Brewer Eikenborg 2, Dan Fuller 29, Tanner DeWall 2.