Buzzer-beater allows Bulldogs to beat Comet boys in OT as Algona sweeps varsity DH

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

ALGONA — People have been known to talk their way out of trouble.

After finding themselves down 15-0 while going scoreless for most of the first quarter during Saturday afternoon’s boys game to cap a varsity basketball doubleheader in Algona, the Charles City Comets nearly talked their way out of trouble for what would have been an impressive come-from-behind victory on the road.

What we mean by “talking their way out of trouble” after trailing big early is the way Charles City communicated with each other amidst the halfcourt zone defense it employed to stymie the Bulldogs’ physical lineup graced with several future NCAA Division I football players while chipping into the lead.

With their senior leadership doing much of the talking, the Comets were able to call out screens, make seamless switches, identify shooters, potential cutters and “backdoor intruders” while limiting the Bulldogs to one-shot possessions and even a few no-shot possessions with Algona unwittingly running its shot clock to zero while failing to find cracks in the resistance.

When Comet senior Jack Hanson hit his second 3-point shot of the game early in the fourth quarter, it tied the game at 36. When Jeb Wandro, another Comet senior, hit his second 3-pointer of the game with 5:21 left in regulation, it gave the Comets their first lead of the game (39-36).

Charles City was still leading by 3 (47-44) with 3.6 seconds left in regulation when inbounding the ball at the far baseline. An errant inbound pass found Bulldog junior Ben Helmers conveniently positioned at the top of the key. Helmers, who would lead all scorers with 19 points, hit the shot to beat the buzzer and send it into overtime.

A bad place to be for the Comets who — in part because of their commendable defensive effort to get back into the game — had much of their starting lineup in foul trouble just in time for OT.

The Bulldogs prevailed 56-52 for their first win of the season.

Charles City senior Keenan Wiley scored 14 points, Hanson had 12 points, and Kayden Kasemeier added 10 for the still winless Comets (0-3).

With 10 total rebounds, Helmers recorded a triple-double for the Bulldogs (1-1).

With nine rebounds apiece, Kasemeier and Wiley were both one board short of a triple-double.

* In the previous girls game of Saturday afternoon’s varsity doubleheader, the Bulldogs utilized excellent ball movement while creating high-percentage shots in the open court as well as in the half court while rolling over the Comets 66-21.

Freshman Hayden McLaughlin and junior Lauren McLaughlin scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Algona (2-2).

Charles City senior Maggie Boss and sophomore Evelyn Mayhew both scored 5 for the Comets.

The following Monday, the Comet girls hosted Saint Ansgar in a non-conference game.

Led by Amelia Porisch’s game-high 21 points, the Saints improved to 2-1 for the season after defeating the Comets 75-34.

Boss led Charles City with 12 points by way of four 3-point field goals.

Lauren Staudt added 8 points, Hannah Hoffman scored 6 and Alex Wohlers added 5 for the Comets, who fell to 1-4 overall.

The Comet girls will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Decorah with the Comet boys for a varsity doubleheader against the Vikings.

Girls Varsity

ALGONA 66, CHARLES CITY 21

Scoring By Quarters

CHARLES CITY 3 7 4 8 — 21

ALGONA 15 18 16 17 — 66

Individual Scoring

CHARLES CITY — Mya Rimrod 2, Lauren Staudt 3, Maggie Boss 5, Hannah Hoffman 1, Alex Wohlers 1, Evelyn Mayhew 5, Elayna Hemesath 4.

ALGONA — Hayden Kuhlmann 8, Paige Schmitt 6, Casey VanOtterloo 7, Hayden McLaughlin 12, Lauren McLaughlin 11, Andi Jensen 4, Taylor VanOtterloo 4, BellaJo Dunning 8, Gabby Venteicher 3, Kayla Buscher 2, Lainey Venteicher 2.

SAINT ANSGAR 75,
CHARLES CITY 34

Scoring By Quarters

SAINT ANSGAR 22 24 18 21 — 75

CHARLES CITY 12 9 11 2 — 34

SAINT ANSGAR — Amelia Porisch 21, Kenzie Peterson 6, Sophie Urbatsch 6, Kinsey Anderson 8, Natalie Bork 2, Kaelee Hicken 4, Aspen Falk 11, Josie Jahr 3, Makenna Norby 4, Alexis Frein 1, Bree Tabbert 1, Lindsay Kruse 8.

CHARLES CITY — Mya Rimrod 1, Lauren Staudt 8, Maggie Boss 12, Hannah Hoffman 6, Alex Wohlers 5, Evelyn Mayhew 1, Elayna Hemesath 1.

Boys Varsity

ALGONA 56, CHARLES CITY 52 (OT)

Scoring By Periods

CHARLES CITY 3 17 13 14 5 — 52

ALGONA 16 9 11 11 9 — 56

Individual Scoring

CHARLES CITY — Jack Hanson 12, Kaden Buseman 3, Keenan Wiley 14, Kayden Kasemeier 10, Jeb Wandro 6, Jordan Foster 1, Henry Ruzicka 6.

ALGONA — Landon Welp 18, Ben Helmers 19, Alex Manske 11, Evan Allie 2, Jack Limbaugh 6.