Comets Embrace the Grind as Holiday Gauntlet Builds Championship Toughness

The Hillcrest Comets didn’t ease into the holiday season; they leaned straight into the grind.

That tone was set on December 18 in Hancock, when Hillcrest opened what would become the toughest three-week stretch of the season with a hard-fought 60–57 road win. In a gym where every possession mattered and every rebound was contested, the Comets showed early signs of the toughness they knew would be required moving forward.

Hillcrest battled through a physical, back-and-forth game, winning the efficiency battle inside the arc, making 51.5% on two-point shots, and stacking points through effort areas. Points in the paint, points off turnovers, and second-chance opportunities elevated Hillcrest. The Comets forced Hancock into 19 turnovers, turned defense into offense, and stayed composed late when the game tightened. It wasn’t perfect basketball, but it was winning basketball, the kind that travels, and the kind that prepares a team for what’s ahead.

What followed confirmed that Hancock was not a peak but a launching point for building toughness.

After Christmas, Hillcrest stepped into the Dairy Queen Granite City Classic knowing they would face some of the best competition in the state, and that those games would demand more than execution. They would demand resilience and composure, and would force the Comets to measure themselves honestly.

On Friday, December 26, the Comets opened against Albany, the No. 7 team in Class AA, at St. Cloud State University. Early offensive rhythm was challenging to find, and Hillcrest trailed 33–13 at the half before falling 59–34. Senior Sean Berge led the way with 12 points, while sophomore Will Selvig earned his first varsity start and contributed six points. It was a sharp reminder of the physicality and pace required to compete at the highest level with the best teams in the state.

Saturday brought another challenge, this time against Dawson-Boyd, the No. 7 team in Class A, at St. Cloud Apollo. A fast, confident opponent capitalized on a quick start, opening on a 23–4 run behind efficient three-point shooting. Hillcrest battled but couldn’t fully recover, falling 74–50. Berge again led the Comets with 20 points, attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line, while Ethan Swedberg added 10. Defensively, Zane Holmquist provided strong minutes in his first varsity start of the season.

Comet head coach Donavan Rogness framed the weekend not as a setback, but as a necessary checkpoint:

“The outcome was definitely not what we wanted this weekend, but the boys worked so hard, and our desire to compete was there in each game against some excellent competition. Our shots didn’t fall this weekend, and we got down in both first halves and couldn’t claw our way back into the games. Many things to learn from and implement into the rest of our season.”

Those lessons are now shaping the Comets’ identity. The contrast between the gritty Hancock win and the challenges at Granite City has clarified what Hillcrest must become. The Comets have seen the speed, spacing, physicality, and consistency required to compete with ranked teams, and they’ve felt the cost of slow starts and missed opportunities. That clarity matters.

As the calendar turns and the season enters its second phase, Hillcrest isn’t simply chasing wins. They’re chasing a standard marked by discipline and toughness that shows up regardless of opponent or venue. The holiday grind has raised the bar, and the Comets now know exactly what kind of team they are aspiring to beat.