The West Liberty boys’ basketball team suffered a tough 54-53 loss to rival West Branch on Tuesday (Jan. 28) in a game that came down to the final 45 seconds.
Despite battling back late, the Comets’ final push fell just short, as they were unable to convert in the dying moments.
The Comets had a solid start, leading 21-13 after the first quarter. However, the Bears chipped away, with the score tied at 30-29 at halftime. West Liberty held a slight advantage going into the final quarter, but West Branch outscored the Comets 12-9 in the fourth to edge out the narrow victory.
On Monday, West Liberty secured a 49-41 victory over the Wilton Beavers. The Comets came out strong with a 16-4 lead after the first quarter, and although Wilton mounted a challenge, West Liberty never relinquished the lead.
The Comets extended their advantage to 25-17 by halftime and held off the Beavers in the second half, despite a strong push from Wilton that cut the deficit to 36-28 heading into the final quarter.
West Liberty’s defense stifled the Beavers in the fourth, and they finished with an eight-point win.
West Liberty capped off a busy week with an overwhelming 77-28 win against the Midland Eagles on Friday.
The Comets displayed complete dominance, leading 25-2 after the first quarter.
Their defense was stifling, as Midland managed just six points by halftime, with West Liberty holding a commanding 52-6 lead.
The third quarter was more of the same, as the Comets continued to pull away with a 68-11 lead heading into the final period.
The Eagles were unable to mount any significant challenge, and West Liberty cruised to the blowout win.
The Comets enter the home stretch with a Friday matchup against Durant and a Monday matchup against Benton Community before finishing the stretch on Tuesday against Iowa City Regina.
Girls extend winning streak to three
West Liberty’s girls’ basketball team showcased its resilience and determination on Tuesday night, battling through a tough and contentious regulation period against the West Branch Bears before running away with a 62-53 victory in overtime.
In an intense game, the Comets and Bears were deadlocked at 51-51 at the end of regulation. West Liberty then turned on the gas in the extra period, outscoring West Branch 11-2 to secure their second consecutive victory.
The game was a testament to the Comets’ grit, especially after a tight first half, where they were trailing 24-23 at the break.
The intensity ramped up in the second half, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the game. But when it mattered most, West Liberty’s depth and execution in overtime proved to be the difference.
Earlier in the week, West Liberty had set the stage for their overtime win with two other hard-fought victories.
On Monday, the Comets beat the Wilton Beavers 43-37 in a closely contested game.
West Liberty took control early, leading 16-9 after the first quarter, and while Wilton fought back, the Comets’ strong second and third quarters kept them ahead.
They maintained a 38-26 lead heading into the final period before holding off a late push from the Beavers.
On Friday, the Comets continued their strong play, taking down the Midland Eagles 56-34.
West Liberty jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the first quarter and built on that advantage, extending it to 30-17 at halftime.
The Comets’ defense was stifling, allowing Midland just 22 points through three quarters.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, West Liberty had cruised to a decisive 56-34 win, extending their win streak to three games.
The Comets will look to continue their strong momentum over the next two weeks with three tough matchups.
On Friday, they will host the Durant Wildcats at home, followed by a trip to Benton to face the Bobcats on Monday. The week wraps up with a challenging road game against Iowa City Regina on Tuesday.
