Comets lose conference opener

By Greg Seubert

Luxemburg-Casco put up a big number against the Waupaca boys’ basketball team.

The Spartans handed the Comets a 100-50 loss Dec. 4 in the North Eastern Conference opener for both teams.

Waupaca also fell to Winneconne 86-82 Dec. 1.

L-C 100, Waupaca 50
LUXEMBURG – L-C outscored the Comets 47-26 in the first half and 53-24 in the second half.

Tony Blackwell led Waupaca with 19 points, while Bre’on Sease added eight.

Jake Zeitler led four Spartans in double figures with 28 points.

Winneconne 86, Waupaca 82

Tony Blackwell scored a team-high 30 points for Waupaca Dec. 1 in the Comets’ season-opening 86-82 loss to Winneconne. Greg Seubert Photo

WAUPACA – The Comets put up 82 points in a fast-paced opening game, but still came up short against the Wolves.

Waupaca led 15-2 at one point, but Winneconne answered with a 13-0 run of its own and took a 37-35 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Wolves led by as many as seven points in the second half, but Brandon Wanty’s three-point play with 7:48 remaining gave the Comets a 61-59 lead.

Winneconne eventually regained the lead and led by as many as five down the stretch.

“We’re trying to play fast,” coach Ron Weber said. “Until we get to a point where we go, ‘Oh boy, this isn’t going to do it for us,’ then we’ll change. Right now, I think that plays to our skill, our athleticism and the fact that we’re so guard-oriented.”

Blackwell led the Comets with 31 points, while Joseph Blackwell chipped in with 14 and Wanty and Sease added 11 each.

Waupaca had no answer for Scott Kramer and Jake Ellis, who had 38 and 28 points, respectively.

“Probably the most outstanding thing about tonight’s game is how well our bench played, quite honestly, to keep us in the game,” Weber said. “I’m talking deep into the bench. I thought all the guys off the bench really did a nice job. To play like this, you’ve got to have depth. That was established tonight. Our guys came in off the bench and showed they can hold the fort, at least.”

Waupaca began a four-game home stand against New London Tuesday, Dec. 8. The Comets lost 57-49 against the Bulldogs.

Waupaca will return to North Eastern play at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, against Clintonville. The Comets also have home games scheduled against Oconto Falls Tuesday, Dec. 15, and Little Chute Friday, Dec. 18.