Going up against a state-ranked opponent apparently brings out the best in the Waupaca Comet girls basketball team.
The Comets nearly knocked off Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, the fourth-ranked team in Division 5 in this week’s Associated Press state girls’ poll, Monday, Jan. 23. The Royals held on for a 38-35 nonconference win.
The loss snapped Waupaca’s two-game winning streak that included Eastern Valley Conference wins over Winneconne and Little Chute.
Assumption 38, Waupaca 35
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Comets and Royals were tied at 32-32 with less than two minutes remaining, but the Royals scored six of the game’s final nine points to pull out the win.
Assumption led 8-6 after one quarter, 18-16 at halftime and 30-26 after three quarters.
Alta Littrel scored nine of her game-high 14 points in the first half, while Mikaila Johnson added seven for Waupaca. Mary Sigler and Kallie Reinke led the Royals with 13 points each.
“The biggest positive I saw in the game was we executed pretty well down the stretch,” coach Brandon Temperly said. “The execution was there. We just couldn’t convert.”
Waupaca 56, Winneconne 43
WAUPACA – The Comets improved to 4-4 in conference play Friday, Jan. 20, with a win over the Wolves.
Waupaca led 16-2 after one quarter, 31-12 at halftime and 43-28 after three quarters.
Ashlie Hoffman led the Comets with 17 points, while Johnson chipped in with 10.
Waupaca 42, Little Chute 37
LITTLE CHUTE – Little Chute cut Waupaca’s lead to 36-35 late in the game, but the Comets outscored the host Mustangs 6-2 the rest of the way.
Waupaca led 12-5 after the first quarter, but Little Chute led 18-17 at halftime. Waupaca regained the lead in the third quarter and lead 31-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
Hoffman led all scorers with 20 points.
Waupaca hosted Stevens Point Tuesday, Jan. 24, and will play at Appleton Xavier at 7:15 tonight (Thursday, Jan. 26) before hosting Fox Valley Lutheran Tuesday, Jan. 31.