Clark Earns 100th Career Win as Comets Overwhelm Parkers Prairie
The Comets didn’t just earn another win Friday night; they marked a significant career milestone.
With a commanding 76–19 victory over Parkers Prairie, Comet Head Coach Hannah Clark secured the 100th win of her coaching career, and the way it happened reflected exactly what has defined her program: relentless defense, shared responsibility, and disciplined execution on both ends of the floor.
From the opening tip, the Comets imposed their will defensively, racing to a 47–6 halftime lead. “Our defensive pressure allowed us to jump out to an early lead,” Coach Clark said. The box score confirms just how disruptive that pressure was. Hillcrest finished with 26 steals, nearly matching their opponent’s total point output. Even more telling, the Comets recorded 19 assists on 30 made field goals, a sign that the offense flowed out of defensive stops rather than isolation scoring.
Leading the charge was Elin Retzlaff, who delivered one of the most complete performances of the season. Retzlaff scored 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting (64%), including efficient finishes at the rim and confident perimeter looks. But her impact went far beyond scoring. She added 8 rebounds, 7 steals, and 3 blocks, anchoring the defense while setting the tone with her activity level on the ball and in passing lanes.
What often gets overlooked in lopsided wins is the discipline required to maintain structure. Hillcrest didn’t abandon fundamentals despite the margin. The Comets shot 43% from the field and 37% from three-point range. Inside the arc, Hillcrest converted 46% of its two-point attempts, consistently attacking gaps created by ball movement and penetration.
Elsa Retzlaff contributed across every column with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals, highlighting Hillcrest’s emphasis on two-way guards who can score, distribute, and defend. Ella Knutson added a stat line that rarely grabs headlines but drives winning basketball: 5 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals, serving as a connective piece that kept Hillcrest organized on both ends of the floor.
“It was a fun night for our team as a lot of girls were able to get minutes on the floor,” Clark noted. Nine players scored, and multiple athletes contributed defensively with blocks, deflections, and rebounds. Annika Bjorndahl made the most of her touches, scoring 7 points on an efficient 3-for-4 shooting, while Aaveah Stender added 6 points by attacking the paint and finishing through contact. Emme Berge and Stella Moline each chipped in 5 points, with Berge pairing her scoring with work on the glass and Moline stretching the floor and keeping the offense spaced. Paisley Peterson provided strong minutes and 4 points, and Brooke Swedberg capped the scoring with 2 points, a bold underline on a night where Hillcrest’s balanced attack and willingness to share opportunities allowed nearly the entire lineup to make a meaningful impact on the scoreboard. Hillcrest finished with 39 total rebounds and 8 blocks, reinforcing Clark’s commitment to team defense and effort plays that don’t always show up in highlight reels but consistently tilt games.
For Coach Hannah Clark, win No. 100 arrives not as a single achievement but as a reflection of sustained culture. The numbers tell the story: disciplined defense, focused ball movement, unselfish offense, and players empowered to contribute in multiple ways. On a night that celebrated a milestone, the Comets delivered a performance that captured exactly why that milestone matters.