By Jennifer Cesarz
CORRESPONDENT
Playing one of its best weeks of basketball this season, the Delavan-Darien High School boys’ basketball team still fell short, losing to Monona Grove 57-51 and Lake Geneva Badger 61-50.
“Both games stood within reach of the Comets last week,” D-DHS head coach Bob Beighton said.
On Dec. 11, the Comets traveled to Monona Grove for a non-conference match up and after cutting the lead to two with two minutes left in the game, they weren’t able to get the lead and lost 57-51.
“Unfortunately the go-ahead basket eluded us, and we fell by six against our toughest team of the year,” Beighton said.
After being down 16-9 to start the game, the Comets outscored Monona Grove 18-14 in the second quarter to make it a 30-27 game in favor of Monona Grove at halftime.
Both teams scored six points in the third quarter, keeping it a three-point game at the end of the third quarter with the score 36-33.
Monona Grove went on to outscore the Comets 21-18 in the final quarter of action before going on for the win.
The Comets were led by Stephen Rodriguez, who had 13 points, four rebounds and two steals.
John Damrow had a double-double in the game scoring 12 points while picking up 11 rebounds.
Isiah Ramos added 12 points and Isaac Ramos had nine.
The Comets hosted Lake Geneva Badger on Dec. 13 and after outscoring the Badgers 17-16 in the first quarter, had a poor shooting performance in the second quarter and were outscored 19-7 before losing 61-50.
Missed free throws were key in the game as the Comets were only five of 15 from the line.
“Against Badger the free throws were a big part in derailing a second-half comeback as the Comets rallied from down 11 to cut the Badger lead to four points in the fourth,” Beighton said.
He said the Comets missed the front end of three one and one free throw opportunities, which proved to be the difference in the game.
The Comets, who are now 2-6 overall and 0-3 in the Southern Lakes Conference, were led by Isaac Ramos who had 17 points, three steals and two rebounds.
Rodriguez added 13 points, Isiah Ramos had eight points, and Jesse Collins had seven points.
The Comets finish 2012 with a game Friday night at D-DHS when they host Waterford at 7 p.m. It will be the Comets’ last game until January.
