Comets beat Westosha Central, lose to Waterford
By Jennifer Cesarz
Correspondent
Clutch free-throw shooting by sophomore Claudia Nieuwenhuis helped lift the Delavan-Darien High School girls basketball team to a 60-59 win over Westosha Central Friday night in Southern Lakes Conference action.
Earlier in the week, the Comets (4-12, 2-8) lost a close one to Waterford, losing 36-34.
“I thought we did a great job of running offense and not turning the ball over,” D-DHS head coach Hank Johnson said about his team’s loss to Waterford. “We wanted to keep them in a low-scoring game, and we did just that.”
For the Comets though, what helped them in the win against Westosha Central is what hurt them in the loss to Waterford.
“We struggled from the line in this game going eight for 20, which came back to get us at the end of the game,” Johnson said.
“I am very proud of the way the girls played this game, they gave it their all,” Johnson said.
The Comets had the 15-14 halftime lead against Waterford, but the Wolverines used a 15-10 third quarter advantage to help get the victory.
Kylie Collins led the Comets with 11 points, and Jennah Speth added eight.
Hosting the Falcons Friday night, the Comets shot 23 for 31 from the free throw line helping them get the 60-59 win.
With the score tied at 59-59, Nieuwenhuis made a free throw with 1.4 seconds left to give them the 60-59 win.
The Comets had the 28-23 halftime lead before the Falcons outscored them 14-8 in the third quarter to go up 37-36 to start the last quarter of action.
It was a high-scoring final quarter, with the Comets outscoring the Falcons, 24-22 for the win.
“We thought Westosha did a great job of adjusting to our defense from the first game,” Johnson said. “However the girls were able to find a way to win the game at the end from the line.”
Collins led the Comets with 20 points, and Megan Butke added 17. Speth had 12 in the win.
The Comets travel to Burlington Friday night for a 7 p.m. game and will host Palmyra-Eagle Monday night at 7 p.m. Tuesday the Comets travel to Kenosha Bradford for a 7:15 p.m. game.
