Finally able to play, Comets lose pair to GW


South Boston News

The Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team (0-1, 0-1 Piedmont District) returned to the court Thursday night after a near-year hiatus and fell to GW-Danville 58-55 in the waning seconds of the game.

The last time both teams met, Halifax was handing GW (2-2, 2-0 Piedmont District) a 56-54 Region 4D region loss in February 2020 to advance to the VHSL quarterfinal round state tournament as the Region 4D no. 1 seed.

Both teams showed the effects of not having proper training schedules as uneven physical preparedness intertwined with sometimes sloppy play. Several times both teams missed put-backs in the same sequence under and around the basket.

Thursday’s game at Blue Heaven started slow but finished strong. Despite not having a lot of prep time, the game played out as only Comets vs. GW games ordinarily will — down to the wire.

Comet head coach Sterling Williams said when you look at just the game, the team needs improvement. Looking at the broader picture, Williams was pleased and relieved.

“I think first game jitters, just being back out there, getting to play again,” Williams said of opening night. “I think everybody was excited. I though we competed.

“I didn’t think we played well; we played hard but our conditioning level didn’t allow us to play as well as we’re capable of playing. We understand the kind of hand we’re being dealt right now so we’re kind of trying to make the most out of it.”

GW inbounded the ball to start the game and after a couple of series up and down the court the Eagles’ Donovan Howard posted the first basket for the 2-0 lead.

Jaden Waller answered for the Comets after getting a breakaway goal to tie the game at 2-2. Kameron Roberts dropped in a deuce to make the score 4-2.

GW tied the score at 4-4 before Halifax went on a 7-3 run to end the period, led by five points from Keyshawn Wells. The Comets led 11-7 going to the second.

Halifax started to find its groove in the second period, playing more consistent offense. Still, GW opened with a 4-0 run knotting the game at 11-11.

Wells pulled the Comets ahead at 13-11 before GW’s Jakobe Dixon sank a deep trey to move out 14-13. Trading points, the score was locked at 16-16.

Wells, Kevon Ferrell, Roberts and Davon Jennings led the second-period charge. Each team posted 15 points in the frame with the Comets leading at the half 26-22.

Wells and Roberts led Halifax with seven and six points, respectively, at the break. Jennings and Waller had four points apiece.

Making some adjustments at the half, the Comets were primed to pick up their level of play entering the second half.

Halifax pushed out to a 32-23 score, the results of a 10-1 run culminating with a Ferrell deuce. Waller increased the score to 34-23 with 5:16 left in the quarter.

At the 2:50 mark in the third period Waller went one-of-one at the line to give Halifax a 12-point lead at 39-27. The Comets finished out the period ahead 42-33.

As the fourth period opened GW rose to the occasion with a 6-0 surge and cut the Comets lead to three, 42-39.

Waller and Roberts connected on buckets for the 46-39 score. Jennings posted a basket and in short time the Comets held a 50-46 lead. This is where things began to really go south for the Comets.

GW tied the score at 50-50 and then took the lead at 55-54 with 1:40 remaining in the game. Jennings would go to the foul stripe and hit one-of-one knotting the score at 55-55.

With 6.2 seconds left in the game, GW went to the foul line and missed the free throw. The Eagles’ Tyreke Poole rebounded the ball and Poole, who scored all eight of his points in the fourth period, hit the basket.

Halifax went for a desperation three-pointer to tie the game with a little over 2 ticks remaining, missed off the rim.

The Comets had three players scoring double figures. Waller and Wells had 11 points each, Roberts and Jennings added 10 points apiece, Ferrell knocked down eight, and Adam Palmer and Ta’Shawn Medley posted two each.

GW’s Howard and Walters paced all scorers on the night with 14 points each. Dixon had 12 points and Ahmad Poole hit for eight points. Ska’Kobe Hairston posted four; Aman Blackwell three points. Lakeith Williams and Monsel Hamlett garnered a deuce each.

Comets travel to GW, rally late and lose 54-48 on Friday

It was GW again for the Comets Friday, this time in Danville. Hoping to avenge the Thursday loss, the Comets came up short, losing 54-48.

“Friday night we just came out flat,” Williams acknowledged. “Thursday’s game was kind of lingering around on us and mid-way the fourth quarter we starting playing with intensity. Trying to keep the guys in front of us and fighting and clawing to get back in the game.”

The Comets held GW close throughout the opening period, trailing by one at 14-13 to end the period. Nijay Ross had two treys in the frame to lead the Comets with six points.

A 21-6 second quarter in GW’s favor sealed the loss for Halifax.

“They went big on us,” Williams said. “I think at halftime they were up on us 17 points and then we cut it to 11 to start the fourth and then we got it down to maybe four points.

“It’s good to see the guys not giving up and competing. But we can’t dig ourselves that big of a hole and then have to fight and claw to get back in to the game.”

Jaden Waller and Kameron Roberts led the comeback in the final period — sparked by a Jennings’ basket — for the Comets but GW would hold on for the win six-point victory.

Waller finished the game with 16 points – two of those points aided by a nasty breakaway dunk in the fourth; Roberts dropped in 15. Jennings contributed seven in the loss.

Waller led the Comets with 16 points. Roberts joined his teammate in double figures with 14. Jennings finished with seven; Ross added six points. Wells and Ferrell posted a deuce each.

“We felt like the way we played the last four minutes of the fourth quarter if we had played that way the entire game it might be a different outcome so … We saw some positive things, but we also saw some things we need to work on execute wise,” Williams said.

GW was led by Dixon with 13 and Xavier Waters’ 10 points. Howard (6), Hamlett (5), Hairston, Edmond and Pritchett with (4 each), Williams and Pole with a deuce apiece.

But even with the two losses Williams says an initial hurdle has been cleared. Players want to play and coaches want to coach.

“It’s a blessing for these kids to be back out here so we’re trying to seize that too,” Williams said thoughtfully. “They hadn’t had the opportunity to play or practice and be around their teammates consistently so this is a blessing for us that we’re able to get back to some kind of normalcy and competing, and playing a game, and coaching a game we love.

“So it’s good for that mental health. It’s just we’d like to be on the other side of the coin as far as winning.”

That opportunity will present on Monday night in the Region 4D Tournament opener when Halifax hits the road to Danville to battle GW for the third time.

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