Comets ‘hush’ Huskies in NEIC B&G basketball openers

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Gymnasiums are not bursting at the seams as much this season, and the few fans in attendance are muffled by mask mandates.

But even muffled voices can carry with pointed clarity in near-empty spaces, and on several occasions the visiting fans from Oelwein got the attention of the officiating crew working the Northeast Iowa Conference girls basketball game hosted by Charles City on Friday.

The Husky supporters may not have been pleased that their vocal “suggestions” weren’t always heeded, but in all honesty, the officials weren’t really much of a deciding factor in this game.

The Comets were pretty much in control after spotting the Huskies a 4-0 lead at the start, rolling to a convincing 46-22 win.

Junior Ashlyn Hoeft had 9 points which included 7 of 9 free-throw shooting while leading a balanced attack for the Comets, who placed a season-high eight players in the scoring column.

Sadie Gebel and Dani Stock each added 8 points for the Comets, who improved to 2-2 overall while winning their first NEIC contest.

Like a good football team that will make you pay for blitzing or “dogging” them, a good basketball team will make you pay for pressing them.

That’s what the Comets did consistently when the Huskies tried to press and trap them in the backcourt.

With junior guard Lydia Staudt dribbling around and sometimes through defenders, and sophomore Delaney Ruzicka making herself an available open outlet in the middle of the floor, Charles City repeatedly broke Oelwein’s press and scored several uncontested layups as a result.

Junior Malayna Kiel had 9 points to lead the Huskies (0-4, 0-1).

* Meanwhile in Oelwein, it was the “Low” man who was the “High” man for the Comets in their 75-57 win over the Huskies in NEIC boys basketball action.

Charles City sophomore Chase Low scored a season-high 23 points to lead the Comets to victory.

JJ Ritter and Jose Hernandez each scored 14, and senior Kaden Barry added 12 points for Charles City, which — just like the Comet girls — improved to 2-2 and 1-0.

Jacob King had a game-high 27 points for the Huskies (2-2, 0-2).

Both Charles City varsity teams will be in action on Tuesday (Dec. 15) when they take on NEIC rival Waverly-Shell Rock. The boys will host the Go-Hawks in Comet Gym; the girls will travel to Waverly.

Both varsity games are scheduled to tip-off at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Boys Varsity

CHARLES CITY 75, OELWEIN 57

CHARLES CITY — JJ Ritter 14, Jose Hernandez 14, Ian Collins 4, Mario Hoefer 2, Chase Low 23, Kaden Barry 12, Jeremiah Chapman 4, Drew Martin 2.

OELWEIN — Jacob King 27, Carter Jeanes 3, Spencer Logan 2, Duncan Tripp 6, Jeremiah Sullivan 3, Cole Hamilton 10, Ethan Studebaker 6.

Girls Varsity

CHARLES CITY 46, OELWEIN 22

OELWEIN — Malayna Kiel 9, Madeline McShane 4, Kayle Stewart 3, Alexa Berryman 2, Joslynn Melchert 2, Mallory Bratten 2.

CHARLES CITY — Lydia Staudt 6, Dani Stock 8, Aubrey Hoeft 2, Delaney Ruzicka 4, Ava Ellis 5, Ashlyn Hoeft 9, Katie Mahler 1, Sadie Gebel 8.