Comets Come Alive in Home Opener, Topple Underwood 56–44

The Comets opened their home slate with a statement win Tuesday night, taking down the Underwood Rockets 56–44. Taking a 30–19 lead into halftime, the girls never relinquished control, powered by a dynamic one-two punch from sisters Elin and Elsa Retzlaff, who combined for an electric 45 points.

“Elsa came out hot in the first half, and Elin took over in the second,” Head coach Hannah Clark noted. Elsa dropped 21 points with five rebounds on the night, while Elin put together a 24-point, seven-rebound, and five-assist performance.

But the box score told an even fuller story. While the Retzlaffs combined for an astonishing 45 of Hillcrest’s 56 points, the Comets’ win was anchored on the glass. Hillcrest outrebounded Underwood 34–27, with production coming from all corners of the roster. Emme Berge was the engine of that effort, pulling down 10 rebounds to go with 4 points and one of the strongest defensive performances of the night. Her pressure on Underwood’s ball-handlers disrupted the Rockets’ offense and forced hurried decisions.

“Emme had a solid night for us,” Clark said. “She played great on-ball defense and really made it hard for their guards to get any separation.”

Behind Berge, Hillcrest’s rebounding depth showed itself early and often. Ella Knutson grabbed 5 boards to go with her 4 points, while Aaveah Stender came off the bench and collected 5 rebounds of her own. The Comets’ 27 defensive rebounds limited Underwood’s second chances and allowed Hillcrest to dictate tempo most of the way.

Offensively, the Comets put up 21 field goals on 57 attempts, shooting 36 percent overall and 46 percent inside the arc. They hit six of their eight free-throw attempts and used timely ball movement to create open looks when they settled into their sets.

“We took a lot of quick shots early,” Clark admitted, “but when we were patient and moved the ball, we got high-percentage looks.” When the Comets play within their offense, they’re tough to guard.”

Underwood trimmed the lead late, but Hillcrest closed the door with disciplined possessions, defensive rebounds, and steady guard play. The Comets matched the Rockets’ 25 second-half points to hold the margin they had built before the break.

For a home opener, it was exactly the kind of performance the Comets hoped to show: tough scoring at the top, depth on the glass, defensive grit, and clear opportunities for growth. Clark emphasized that the team is only beginning to scratch its potential.

“Overall, there are still some things we need to clean up to reach our full potential, but I liked how the girls finished the game to ensure we got the win.