CASSVILLE – After trailing the visiting Belmont Braves, 5-4, early in the first quarter of last Thursday night’s Six Rivers West conference contest, the host Cassville Comets outscored their opponent 30-6 in the remaining minutes of the first half.
Coach Dennis Uppena’s squad held a 34-11 lead at the half, and cruised the rest of the way for a 70-39 victory, leaving them perfect on the season.
With the win, Cassville improved to 2-0 in league play, and 4-0 overall. Sharing the top spot in the league standings though is Shullsburg (2-0, 4-1), whom the Comets played this past Tuesday night; results will be in next week’s paper.
The Comets took control of last Thursday night’s game in the second quarter, both on offense and on defense, as they outscored the Braves, 16-1 in the eight-minute stretch.
In the second quarter, senior Elijah Okey scored seven points, and finished with 12, to go along with 10 rebounds.
Fellow senior Ty Kartman finished the first half with 10 points, then scored 10 more in the third quarter and nine in the fourth to finish with 29 total points to go along with four assists.
Cole Adams added 10 points to the win, as well as 10 rebounds and had four of his team’s seven steals.
Coach Dennis Uppena’s squad made 28-of-61 (46%) field goal attempts, including 4-of-16 (25%) from downtown.
The Comets were 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the free throw line, committed 17 turnovers, and pulled down 48 rebounds, 15 on the offensive end.
Following this past Tuesday night’s contest at Shullsburg, the Comets will travel to Wauzeka on Monday, Dec. 23. The Hornets are coming off a 58-26 loss to Potosi.
Cassville 70, Belmont 39
(from Thursday, Dec. 12)
Belmont 10 1 16 12 - 39
Cassville 18 16 21 15 - 70
Belmont - Lane Kamps 7, Justin Nodorft 10, Quinn Cushman 3, Jon Bahr 10, Cole Lehnheer 2, Logan Boigts 1, Rain Boigts 6. Totals - 13 10-19 39.
Cassville - Andrew Ihm 2, Gage Kaufman 1, Hunter Nix 2, Ty Kartman 29, Brad Klein 2, Cole Adams 10, Elijah Okey 12, Ryan Kirschbaum 5, Codi Schwab 2, Austin Mellem 5. Totals - 28 10-16 70.
3-point goals - B: Nordorft 1, Cushman 1, Bahr 1; C: Kartman 3, Mellem 1. Team fouls - B 15, C 16. Fouled out - None.