ALBANY — The Comets entered its nonconference contest against the Cardinals undefeated, limiting opponents to just 31 ppg. But Brodhead shot over 50% from the field and over 30% from three-point range to defeat Albany 63-44 on Dec. 23.

The Division 3 opponents had no problem with Albany’s zone, jumping out to a 9-0 lead. The Cardinals broke the extended press, resulting in an easy two for Gabe Bockhop. Two steals benefitted Brody Riese, who received the pass and scored on both — one of them a slam dunk.

Despite scoring nine points in just over two minutes, Brodhead then went cold. Ty Durtschi put Albany on the board, and after a free throw from Kaden Zurfluh, drained a 3-pointer. That shot made it a three-point game and forced a timeout from Brodhead head coach Tommy Meier. 

The Comets held with the Cardinals — getting as close at 17-16 with a 3-pointer from Nate Stokstad — before Brodhead went on a 7-0 run to pull away. The Cardinals worked quickly, scoring on a fast break and in transition.

Once again, Brodhead went cold after a large scoring run — this time for over five minutes. Zurfluh scored five points before Durtschi knotted the game at 24-24 with an assist from Stokstad. Thirty seconds later, Tyler Patchen scored off a screen to give Albany its only lead of the contest.

That lasted all of 17 seconds before Riese assisted Brady Flannery to tie the game again at 26-26. With a three-pointer from Sam Searls, Brodhead regained a 29-26 lead — one from which the Cardinals never looked back.

The advantage ballooned to 11 points five minutes into the second half, as the Comet defense swarmed Searls in the lane, leaving Riese open under the basket for two.

Searls, who came into the game having only made two 3-pointers, got hot at the end. He scored 13 points in the second half with nine of them coming from beyond the arc.