Trey barrage in 4th quarter not enough for Comets in 73-62 loss to Knights

Charles City senior Riley Perez, right, challenges Newman Catholic ballhandler Isaiah Keston near the timeline during the second half of Tuesday’s non-conference boys basketball game, which the visiting Knights won 73-62.
By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — As long as there is a 3-point arc in basketball, no lead is safe … even when it almost doubles an opponent’s score.
The New Catholic Knights were on the verge of doing that — doubling their foe’s game-running output — during the third quarter of their non-conference road game against Charles City, Tuesday night at Comet Gym.
After getting some distance from the Comets while outscoring them 21-9 in the second quarter to extend a 2-point lead at the end of one to a 14-point lead (36-22) at intermission, the Knights were able to hit some wide-open shots midway through the third to widen their lead to 20.
But when Charles City’s resident sharpshooter, senior Riley Perez, found his rhythm as well as his range with a barrage of 3-point shots — Perez made four of his game-high five treys in the second half on way to scoring a team-high 18 points — the Comets were able to draw within 7 (59-52) with 4:30 left in regulation.
Yet with Knight sophomore Westley Cole responding with a fourth-quarter trey himself and well as a few other FGs and a couple of made free throws to cap his game-high 25 points, Newman Catholic was able to keep the Comets at bay to win 73-62.
Senior Isaiah Keston, who also converted a series of free-throw attempts late in the game, had 15 points with senior Colin Bielle adding 12 and senior Cal McGuire pulling down a game-high nine rebounds for Newman Catholic (11-4).
Sophomore Henry Ruzika (15 points), senior Jordin Ritter (11) and junior Victor Ward (10) were the other double-figure scorers for Charles City (6-9), which will be back in action on Friday for a road game against Northeast Iowa Conference foe New Hampton.
NEWMAN CATHOLIC 73, CHARLES CITY 62
Scoring By Quarters
Newman Catholic 15 21 18 19 — 73
Charles City 13 9 17 23 — 62
Individual Scoring
NEWMAN CATHOLIC — Thomas McGuire 6, Isaiah Keston 15, Collin Bielle 12, Cal McGuire 8, Westley Cole 25.
CHARLES CITY — Victor Ward 10, Nick Williams 2, Jordin Ritter 11, Henry Ruzicka 15, Riley Perez 18, Akil Knighten 4, Jesus Villagomez 2.
RECORDS — Charles City 6-9, Newman Catholic 11-4
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