By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Still looking for that first win
Comets fall to 0-3 with loss to Belmont
Adams0769
Cassville sophomore Cole Adams drags a Belmont defender with him on a nice run last Friday night. - photo by photo by A.J. Gaes
A.J. Gates
Updated: Sep 8, 2011, 3:38 PM
Published: Sep 8, 2011, 3:52 PM

CASSVILLE - While the prep football season may have gotten started not all that long ago, it’s never too early to be thinking about the playoffs during a relatively short nine-game season.

For the Cassville Comets, the playoffs won’t be in their future this season unless they win four of their final five games in the Six Rivers conference.

With last Friday night’s 12-7 loss to visiting Belmont, coach Doug Fure’s Comets dropped to 0-3 in league play heading into this Friday night’s road game against Benton-Scales Mound (1-2, 1-2).

Last Friday night’s contest came down to the final seconds, where the Braves were trying to protect a 12-0 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Belmont had gotten a 76-yard TD run from running back Brandon Wedig in the first quarter, followed by a one-yard TD plunge by the junior in the third quarter.

In the first three quarters, Cassville had three possessions end inside Belmont territory, one on downs, one on a punt and another on an interception.

The closest the Comets had gotten to scoring at that point was on a first-and 10 from the 27-yard line. A five-yard loss on a running play by Dallas Bernhardt was then followed by an interception of quarterback Garrett Schauff by Belmont lineman Jesse Richardson.

On their first two possessions of the fourth quarter, Cassville turned the ball over on downs at the Belmont 48 and 34-yard line.

With 3:14 to play in the game and trailing 12-0, the Comets were unable to convert on a fourth-and-three from Belmont’s 34-yard line.

Looking to run out the clock and go home with a win, the Braves turned the ball over on their own 35-yard line when Garrett Schauff recovered a fumble with 2:47 showing on the game clock.

Cassville took 1:06 off the clock on eight plays to score their first and only TD in the game, as Dallas Bernhardt found the end zone from three yards out. Schauff added the extra-point kick for the 12-7 score.

The Braves weren’t out of the woods yet though, as they had to recover an onside kick and collect a crucial first down to secure the victory.

Coach Fure’s Comets concluded the night with 150 yard of total offense, rushing for 98 yards and passing for 52.

Garrett Schauff led the Comet rushing attack with 26 yards on five attempts, while completing 6-of-20 passing attempts for 52 yards and one interception.

Dallas Bernhardt was the team’s top receiver with three receptions for 19 yards.

“We had our chances, but we were unable to get the job done,” said coach Fure. “Our problem right now is that we aren’t finishing drives. If we start doing that and putting points on the board early we can beat just about anyone. As a team, we need to stop beating ourselves with little mistakes and penalties.”

Defensively for the Comets, Dallas Bernhardt had a total of 15 tackles, while Schauff was in on 14 stops, including one fumble recovery.

 

Belmont 12, Cassville 7
(from Friday, Sept. 2)
Belmont    6    0    6    0 - 12
Cassville    0    0    0    7 - 7
First quarter
B - B. Wedig, 76-yard run (kick failed)
Third quarter
B - B. Wedig, 1-yard run (run failed)
Fourth quarter
C - Dallas Bernhardt, 3-yard run (Garrett Schauff kick)


Team statistics
First downs - B 14, C 11. Rushing - B 50-269, C 31-105. Passing yards - B 10, C 43. Passes - B 1-4-1, C 5-21-1. Fumbles lost - B 1, C 0. Penalties-yards - B 8-65, C 6-50.


Individual leaders
Rushing - B: Brandon Wedig 24-157; C: Garrett Schauff 5-26. Passing - B: Abery Willborn 1-4-1, 10; C: Garrett Schauff 5-21-1, 43. Receiving - B: Haag 1-10; C: Dallas Bernhardt 3-19.

 
Belmont's Kaleen McGettigan notches career win No. 200
Braves blowout Potosi/Cassville in coach's milestone victory
Kaleen McGettigan 200
Belmont girls head coach Kaleen McGettigan earned her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 win over Potosi/Cassville.
Casey Lindecrantz
Published: Dec 13, 2024, 7:23 PM

POTOSI — Belmont girls basketball coach Kaleen McGettigan collected her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 victory over Potosi/Cassville.

The Braves shot out to and maintained an early lead in Six Rivers West win over the host Chieftains (3–2, 0–2 SRW).

Potosi/Cassville claimed the opening point on a free throw, but a basket under the hoop by Morgan Freeman earned the only lead change of the night. The result was a Braves lead where the traveling team earned nearly 30 points before Potosi/Cassville tasted double figures.

“Any time we play a conference team, we know it is going to be a battle,” McGettigan said. “The Chieftains lost one of their starters the night before, but credit tot he team and their staff, they came out ready to play. Coach Nebel has done a nice job in her first month as a head coach.”

The Braves clung to a 37–16 lead at the break, nurturing it as they pushed to double Potosi/Cassville’s output over the final 18 minutes.

“I was pleased with the girls’ offensive attacks,” McGettigan said. “We are a tough team to guard because we are so interchangeable, and we need to take more advantage of that.”

The Belmont front was led by a three-headed monster of Lexi Riechers (18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals), Freeman (14 pts, 6 reb), and Kaci Riechers (12 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl). 

Carsyn Ramaker also took on an supporting role — her six rebounds and five assists were each tied for the team high.

“Lexi Riechers was a spark for us, and she got a couple things going on both ends of the floor,” McGettigan said. “Carsyn continues to see the floor well, and Hailey Bahr played the best game of her career.”

With just three opponents left ahead of the new year, the Braves’ next opportunity on the court comes at Benton on Dec. 12.

Junior Lillie Cooley scored a team-high five points in the loss for Potosi/Cassville (3–2, 0–2) which suffered its first loss.

Despite the win, McGettigan believes her team needs improvements in a few areas.

“We need to do a better job of consistently finishing around the rim,” she said. “We also need to be more comfortable  in our half-court sets.”

The Zephyrs (0–6, 0–2) most recently lost to Stockton (Ill.) on Dec. 9, 68–18, and haven’t scored more than 20 points in each of their last three games.

“We need to continue working on limiting other teams’ offensive boards, and getting to our outlet spots,” McGettigan said. “December is a slow month for us, so we need to stay focused in the gym and need to get better.”

Belmont 56, Potosi/Cassville 25
(from Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ Potosi)
Belmont 37 19 — 56
Potosi/Cassville 16 9 — 25
Belmont (2–1, 1–0) — Hailey Bahr 2, Courtney Fritz 5, Kaci Riechers 12, Morgan Freeman 14, Jaelyn Leitzinger 2, Lexi Riechers 18, Brittany Taylor 3. Totals — 25-71 2-7 56.  
Potosi/Cassville (3–1, 0–1) — Matty Udelhofen 4, Madi Weber 2, Lillie Cooley 5, Brielle Fishnick 4, Ruby Roe 3, Miranda Kieler 4, Delany McKillip 3. Totals — 8-43 8-11 25. 
3-pointers — B: 4-19 (Fritz 1, K. Riechers 2, L. Riechers 1); PC: 1-11 (Roe 1). Team fouls — B: 14; PC: 14. Foul out — none.