ALBANY - Before leaving for a Florida vacation, Albany junior Courtney Pfeuti had business to take care of on the basketball court.
Pfeuti scored a game-high 23 points Monday night to lead the Comets to a 60-27 win over Benton. Pfeuti scored the Comets' first five points and she helped spearhead a fullcourt press that forced 23 Zephyrs' turnovers.
"It's good to send her off with a victory," Albany coach Mike Brunhoefer said.
"It's nice to go up against someone who was not at full strength," he said of a short-handed Zephyrs team with a depleted bench. "I can feel their pain."
Albany has been playing without junior Kaitlyn Schulz (foot injury) and Cassidy Bump, who was injured earlier this year.
Albany junior Hayli Peach, who scored all 13 of her points in the first half, drained two first-quarter 3-pointers to spark the Comets' 15-3 run. Albany (6-4, 1-1 Six Rivers East) blitzed the Zephyrs with an 11-0 run to start the second quarter. Peach drilled her third 3-pointer to extend the Comets' lead to 18-5. Pfeuti came up with a steal and layup midway through the second quarter to give the Comets an insurmountable 26-5 lead.
"We knew we had to work on our diamond," Pfeuti said of the press. "Getting the first-quarter lead was important. Then we can do what we wanted to work on the rest of the game."
Pfeuti helped the Comets close the second quarter with a bang after scoring on a layup on the break to give the Comets a 32-7 halftime lead.
"Keeping our intensity was our goal at halftime," Pfeuti said.
In the second half, the Comets pounded the ball inside and junior Sydney Bump scored 11 of her 15 points.
Brunhoefer said the Comets' strength is the quickness of their guards.
"We have to press," Brunhoefer said about playing to the strengths of his team. "I'm not going to pile it up on anybody. You can't go away from what you need to work on. We know Juda and Black Hawk will have an inside game. You are talking about much better caliber teams. We are just hoping our press can cause some problems."
Pfeuti scored a game-high 23 points Monday night to lead the Comets to a 60-27 win over Benton. Pfeuti scored the Comets' first five points and she helped spearhead a fullcourt press that forced 23 Zephyrs' turnovers.
"It's good to send her off with a victory," Albany coach Mike Brunhoefer said.
"It's nice to go up against someone who was not at full strength," he said of a short-handed Zephyrs team with a depleted bench. "I can feel their pain."
Albany has been playing without junior Kaitlyn Schulz (foot injury) and Cassidy Bump, who was injured earlier this year.
Albany junior Hayli Peach, who scored all 13 of her points in the first half, drained two first-quarter 3-pointers to spark the Comets' 15-3 run. Albany (6-4, 1-1 Six Rivers East) blitzed the Zephyrs with an 11-0 run to start the second quarter. Peach drilled her third 3-pointer to extend the Comets' lead to 18-5. Pfeuti came up with a steal and layup midway through the second quarter to give the Comets an insurmountable 26-5 lead.
"We knew we had to work on our diamond," Pfeuti said of the press. "Getting the first-quarter lead was important. Then we can do what we wanted to work on the rest of the game."
Pfeuti helped the Comets close the second quarter with a bang after scoring on a layup on the break to give the Comets a 32-7 halftime lead.
"Keeping our intensity was our goal at halftime," Pfeuti said.
In the second half, the Comets pounded the ball inside and junior Sydney Bump scored 11 of her 15 points.
Brunhoefer said the Comets' strength is the quickness of their guards.
"We have to press," Brunhoefer said about playing to the strengths of his team. "I'm not going to pile it up on anybody. You can't go away from what you need to work on. We know Juda and Black Hawk will have an inside game. You are talking about much better caliber teams. We are just hoping our press can cause some problems."
