JUDA - Hayli Peach scored 30 points, including three big 3-pointers in the third, to spark Albany to a 56-46 win over Juda Tuesday.
It only took four minutes, 17 seconds for the Albany Cardinals to erase a 14-point deficit late in the third quarter.
"I'm so proud of these girls because we don't have a lot of subs - and they never want to come out as is - and Juda is a darn good team," Comets head coach Mike Brunhoefer said. And in regards to his top outside threat, Peach, Brunhoefer said all he does is just stand there and say, "go Hayli, go."
Peach scored 28 points in the second half on 10 free throws and six 3s, helping Albany outscore Juda 42-18 over the final 13:21 of the game.
"I was feeling the 3s the whole game," Peach said. "It feels good, considering that I'm one of the smaller players on the floor, to get the whole show in the game. Usually it's our posts that get that."
The Comets started the game on an 8-0 run and led 13-10 at the end of the first quarter. However, a 13-1 Panthers run in the second gave Juda the leg up at halftime, 23-14.
"Boeke came alive. We were so focused on Ellen (Kiser), because she's such a good ball player and to Boeke's credit, she picked up the slack," Brunhoefer said. "But we didn't press the entire first half. We didn't want to show it and have (Juda) figure it out at halftime."
Another big reason for the Panthers run was senior forward Heather Boeke, who scored eight of her 14 points in the frame.
"That's always the key for us, to have our posts play big," Juda head coach Curt Brown said. Kiser, meanwhile, was held to just five. "(Kiser's) been averaging about 17 a game, so you take away 12 and that's going to hurt. The rest of us have to step up and we need to have everyone ready to play."
Albany also played zone defense without running its press in the first half, which allowed Juda to get out big. In the second half, the press was on and the Panthers couldn't handle the man-to-man pressure.
"We work a lot against zone. We know we're going to see that a lot, and we did a good job. But then we fell away from it when we played against man," Brown said. "(Albany) made plays when it counted. They are a talented team."
Juda opened up the third quarter on a 7-0 run, keeping Albany off of the board until Peach buried a three with 5:21 remaining in the third. The long ball started a 16-0 Comets run that silenced the Panther faithful and had Juda on its heels. Both teams went into the fourth tied at 30.
After draining consecutive free throws, Peach drained consecutive 3s to give Albany a 41-32 advantage. Down the stretch, free throws carried the Comets to the win. Albany finished the fourth quarter 15 of 17 from the charity stripe, including nine of 11 from Peach. The Comets were 22 of 30 in the game from the line.
Peach scored her final three points at the buzzer, launching a 21-footer with a smile on her face.
"They were kind of getting on me. The coach was out there (on the floor) and they were yelling so I figured I'd just throw it up and see if I could make it," Peach said.
Brunhoefer didn't like the shot, but said he could live with it.
"I didn't really want that going up, we didn't need it, but how can you tell a kid not to shoot?" Brunhoefer said.
Courtney Pfeuti had 12 points and Sydney Bump added nine for Albany. Brittany Riese hit three 3s and ended the game with 11 for Juda.
The Comets travel to Black Hawk Friday to take on the conference leading Warriors. Juda, meanwhile, faces another test at home, hosting Barneveld in the first of two breast cancer awareness "Pink Out" games against the Eagles.
"It puts things in perspective. Here we are all fired up about a game when these (breast cancer awareness games) are some of the "real" important things. Our kids definitely think it's a worthy cause and they are taking a big role in it," Brown said.
It only took four minutes, 17 seconds for the Albany Cardinals to erase a 14-point deficit late in the third quarter.
"I'm so proud of these girls because we don't have a lot of subs - and they never want to come out as is - and Juda is a darn good team," Comets head coach Mike Brunhoefer said. And in regards to his top outside threat, Peach, Brunhoefer said all he does is just stand there and say, "go Hayli, go."
Peach scored 28 points in the second half on 10 free throws and six 3s, helping Albany outscore Juda 42-18 over the final 13:21 of the game.
"I was feeling the 3s the whole game," Peach said. "It feels good, considering that I'm one of the smaller players on the floor, to get the whole show in the game. Usually it's our posts that get that."
The Comets started the game on an 8-0 run and led 13-10 at the end of the first quarter. However, a 13-1 Panthers run in the second gave Juda the leg up at halftime, 23-14.
"Boeke came alive. We were so focused on Ellen (Kiser), because she's such a good ball player and to Boeke's credit, she picked up the slack," Brunhoefer said. "But we didn't press the entire first half. We didn't want to show it and have (Juda) figure it out at halftime."
Another big reason for the Panthers run was senior forward Heather Boeke, who scored eight of her 14 points in the frame.
"That's always the key for us, to have our posts play big," Juda head coach Curt Brown said. Kiser, meanwhile, was held to just five. "(Kiser's) been averaging about 17 a game, so you take away 12 and that's going to hurt. The rest of us have to step up and we need to have everyone ready to play."
Albany also played zone defense without running its press in the first half, which allowed Juda to get out big. In the second half, the press was on and the Panthers couldn't handle the man-to-man pressure.
"We work a lot against zone. We know we're going to see that a lot, and we did a good job. But then we fell away from it when we played against man," Brown said. "(Albany) made plays when it counted. They are a talented team."
Juda opened up the third quarter on a 7-0 run, keeping Albany off of the board until Peach buried a three with 5:21 remaining in the third. The long ball started a 16-0 Comets run that silenced the Panther faithful and had Juda on its heels. Both teams went into the fourth tied at 30.
After draining consecutive free throws, Peach drained consecutive 3s to give Albany a 41-32 advantage. Down the stretch, free throws carried the Comets to the win. Albany finished the fourth quarter 15 of 17 from the charity stripe, including nine of 11 from Peach. The Comets were 22 of 30 in the game from the line.
Peach scored her final three points at the buzzer, launching a 21-footer with a smile on her face.
"They were kind of getting on me. The coach was out there (on the floor) and they were yelling so I figured I'd just throw it up and see if I could make it," Peach said.
Brunhoefer didn't like the shot, but said he could live with it.
"I didn't really want that going up, we didn't need it, but how can you tell a kid not to shoot?" Brunhoefer said.
Courtney Pfeuti had 12 points and Sydney Bump added nine for Albany. Brittany Riese hit three 3s and ended the game with 11 for Juda.
The Comets travel to Black Hawk Friday to take on the conference leading Warriors. Juda, meanwhile, faces another test at home, hosting Barneveld in the first of two breast cancer awareness "Pink Out" games against the Eagles.
"It puts things in perspective. Here we are all fired up about a game when these (breast cancer awareness games) are some of the "real" important things. Our kids definitely think it's a worthy cause and they are taking a big role in it," Brown said.
