Comet boys soar over Eagles 74-35, win 5th straight in reaching .500 for the season

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Senior Keenan Wiley scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the first half while helping Charles City jump out to an early lead before making it a commanding lead during the Comet boys’ 74-35 blowout non-conference home win over West Hancock on Thursday.

Comet senior Jeb Wandro scored 17 points, most of which came from five 3-point field goals, senior Jack Hanson had 10 points that included three 3-pointers, and freshman Henry Ruzicka came off the bench to score 10 as Charles City initiated a running-clock before the fourth quarter after attaining a 35-point lead.

For the Comets, it was their fifth-straight win after starting the season losing five straight — thus, they’re sitting at .500 (5-5) overall for the season.

Kaysen Broshar led West Hancock (2-11) with 8 points as the Comets prevented any Eagle scorer from reaching double-digits.

* In the previous girls varsity game, Charles City jumped out to a 4-0 lead and stayed close for the remainder of the first quarter with West Hancock nursing a 1-point lead (7-6) after one.

But the Eagles went on to outscore the Comets 49-15 the following three quarters which included them holding Charles City scoreless in the fourth quarter on way to a 56-21 victory.

Senior Mallory Leerar scored a game-high 19 points, and sophomore Meara Kudel added 16 points for the Eagles (6-7).

Senior Lauren Staudt had 9 points for the Comets, who fell to 1-12.

Both Charles City squads will be back in action Friday on the road for a varsity doubleheader against Waverly-Shell Rock.

Girls Varsity

WEST HANCOCK 56,
CHARLES CITY 21

Scoring By Quarters

WEST HANCOCK 7 15 17 17 — 56

CHARLES CITY 6 9 6 0 — 21

Individual Scoring

WEST HANCOCK — Vanessa Nieto Mendez 10, Aubrey Madson 4, Meara Kudel 16, Mallory Leerar 19, Charlie Bruggeman 1, Payton Whipple 5, Lauryn Johnson 3, Carlie Johnson 2.

CHARLES CITY — Lauren Staudt 9, Maggie Boss 4, Hannah Hoffman 4, Alex Wohlers 2, Evelyn Mayhew 2.

RECORDS — West Hancock 5-7, Charles City 1-12

Boys Varsity

CHARLES CITY 74,
WEST HANCOCK 35

Scoring By Quarters

WEST HANCOCK 12 5 9 9 — 35

CHARLES CITY 17 22 19 16 — 75

Individual Scoring

WEST HANCOCK — Mitchell Smith 7, Paxton Johnson 3, Evan Hinders 3, Brady Bixel 4, Kaysen Broshar 8, Gunnar Faust 5, Rey Gretillat 5.

CHARLES CITY — Jack Hanson 10, Kaden Buseman 3, Keenan Wiley 19, Jordan Foster 3, Nick Williams 2, Kayden Kasemeier 3, Victor Ward 4, Jordin Ritter 3, Josiah Cunnings 2, Jeb Wandro 17, Henry Ruzicka 10.

RECORDS — Charles City 5-5, West Hancock 2-11