By Kohlton Kober
Index Sports Writer
The West Liberty Comets secured a hard-fought 66-60 victory over the Durant Wildcats on Friday night, led by senior Seth Axsom’s standout 23-point performance.
The win keeps the Comets rolling as they prepare for their final regular season test before postseason play.
West Liberty jumped out to an early 19-10 lead in the first quarter, setting the tone with efficient offense and strong defensive pressure.
By halftime, the Wildcats had narrowed the gap slightly, but the Comets still held a 31-23 advantage.
Durant surged in the third quarter, cutting the lead to just two points at 42-40 heading into the final frame.
Despite Durant’s push, the Comets held their ground in the fourth quarter. Axsom continued to deliver offensively, helping West Liberty maintain their edge down the stretch.
The Wildcats fought to stay within striking distance, but key baskets and steady composure at the free-throw line allowed the Comets to secure the six-point win.
Axsom scored his 23 points on 9/16 shooting. Seniors Ryker Dengler and Cael Daufeldt also joined him in double-figures with 13 and 11 points. Dengler also led all players with five steals.
West Liberty now turns its attention to its regular season finale Friday against Anamosa before gearing up for postseason play, where they will host Wilton in the opening round of substate play.
The winner will then travel to face No. 1 seed Northeast on Thursday, Feb. 20.
In the first half of the Durant doubleheader, the West Liberty girls’ basketball team saw a late lead slip away, falling 49-39 to the Wildcats in their final regular-season game.
Despite a strong third quarter that gave them a five-point advantage, the Comets struggled to contain Durant’s offense in the final period, allowing 24 points in the closing eight minutes.
West Liberty faced an early deficit, trailing 10-6 after the first quarter. However, a determined effort in the second quarter evened the score at 15-15 by halftime, setting up a competitive second half.
Coming out of the break, the Comets found their rhythm offensively, outscoring the Wildcats 15-10 in the third quarter to take a 30-25 lead into the final frame.
The fourth quarter, however, proved to be the turning point. Durant’s offense came alive, capitalizing on key opportunities to mount a comeback.
The Wildcats’ 24-point outburst overwhelmed the Comets, who were unable to match the scoring pace down the stretch.
By the final buzzer, West Liberty found themselves on the wrong end of a 49-39 scoreline.
Senior Pearson Hall led the Comets with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Kylee Daufeldt added 11 points and four assists while sophomore Sully Hall tallied eight points.
With the regular season now behind them, the Comets will shift their focus to the postseason. They are set to host the Benton Bobcats on Saturday in the regional quarterfinal. The winner will likely face Mediapolis in the semifinals, which are scheduled for Feb. 19.