Historic Season Ends with Fourth-Place Finish at State for Hillcrest Comets
The final scoreboard told only part of the story at Concordia University in St. Paul. The numbers from one weekend in the Twin Cities were memorable and will hold some weight when people retell the stories of the 2025-26 Comets, but the full season stands taller for Hillcrest because of the historical benchmarks this team set. Under the leadership of Head Coach Hannah Clark, the Comets delivered the most successful season the girls’ basketball program has ever seen at Hillcrest, setting the program record for wins, earning the first State Tournament appearance in school history, and finishing fourth in Class A. Along the way, they built something even more lasting than a trophy case: a team defined by unity, discipline, and a commitment to pray for every opponent they faced. It is, simply put, a remarkable year for a remarkable group of girls.
Hillcrest arrived at the State Tournament with confidence and wasted no time showing it. In the quarterfinal round, the Comets turned in one of their most complete performances of the season, defeating New Richland–Hartland–Ellendale–Geneva (NRHEG) 83–55. Hillcrest’s offense moved the ball crisply while its defense forced difficult shots and controlled the pace. The win sent Hillcrest into the semifinal round and guaranteed that the Comets’ historic season would extend another day on the state’s biggest stage.
The semifinal matchup placed Hillcrest against Mountain Iron-Buhl, the No. 1-ranked team in the state and eventual Class A champion. The Comets competed with poise and intensity, putting together a strong performance against one of Minnesota’s most talented teams before ultimately falling 78–56. Hillcrest showed it could play with the state's best teams, trading scoring runs and battling inside throughout the game. Even in defeat, the Comets demonstrated why they had earned their place among Minnesota’s final four.
Hillcrest closed the tournament against Central Minnesota Christian in the third-place game. The Comets battled throughout but ultimately fell 64–55, finishing the tournament with a fourth-place finish in Class A. Statistically, Hillcrest was led by several standout performances. The Comets were led by Elin Retzlaff with 21 points, shooting 8-for-18 from the field while adding five rebounds. Ella Knutson closed her tenure as a Comet with a decisive 17-point game on an efficient 8-for-16 shooting performance, while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing two assists. Elsa Retzlaff filled the stat sheet with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four steals, continuing her role as one of the team’s most versatile contributors. Hillcrest finished the game shooting 36% from the field (21–57), including 7 three-pointers, while grabbing 30 total rebounds and recording 13 assists and 10 steals as a team.
One of the most memorable moments of the tournament came when Elin Retzlaff reached a milestone rarely achieved in high school basketball. On the floor of historic Williams Arena, Retzlaff scored her 1,000th career point, a moment that drew a roar from the Hillcrest faithful and cemented her place in the program’s record books. Her performance throughout the tournament also earned her a place on the Class A All-Tournament Team, recognizing her as one of the most impactful players on the state’s biggest stage.
The recognition didn’t stop in Minneapolis. This week, the Little Eight Conference announced its postseason honors, and Hillcrest was well represented. Three Comets were named All-Conference: Elsa Retzlaff, Elin Retzlaff, and Ella Knutson. Meanwhile, Aaveah Stender earned All-Conference Second Team honors after another strong season of scoring, rebounding, and defensive intensity. The awards reflected what opponents across the conference experienced all winter: a deep, talented Hillcrest team capable of contributions from multiple players every night.
While the statistics and milestones will be remembered for years, those close to the team know the most lasting mark of this season wasn’t measured in points or trophies. Before and after games throughout the season, the Comets made it a habit to pray for the teams they faced, a quiet but powerful reminder that competition can coexist with humility and faith. In a season filled with excitement, victories, and historic accomplishments, that commitment stood out.
The banners and record books will celebrate the first state tournament appearance, the program record for wins, and a fourth-place finish in Minnesota Class A. But the legacy of the 2025–26 Comets runs deeper. Long after the lights of Williams Arena dim and the final box scores are filed away, the example these young women set, on the court and in prayer, will continue to shape the Hillcrest program for years to come. And for everyone who watched them this season, it truly was a fun group of girls to cheer for and an incredible year to remember.