Comets and Zeniths set for 4A zone semifinal clash tonight at U of L

By Garrett Simmons
Westwind Weekly News

One more win, and the Raymond Comets will be playing for a zone championship.

The Comets opened 4A boys zone play on Tuesday with a 100-55 win over the Winston Churchill High School Bulldogs.

Jeter Heggie paced the Comets attack with 20 points, as three players, Reuben Baldry, Drake Still and Liam Davison, recorded 15-point outings. Payson Hill had 14, Hayden Greep added 11 and Brady Baines had 10.

The Comets now gear up for a zone semifinal contest against the Magrath Zeniths, a game set for tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at the University of Lethbridge.

Magrath advanced to the semifinal after a big 99-87 win over the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Rams on Tuesday.

Dray Walburger had a huge 35-point performance for Magrath, while Cody Tollestrup added 31. Mason Hoffman chipped in with 13.

Last weekend capped off a perfect 14-0 Southern Alberta High School Basketball League regular season with a pair of wins, which included a 116-79 win over the Chinook Coyotes on Friday and a 126-76 triumph over WCHS on Saturday.

In the win over Chinook, Liam Davison led the way with 26, as Brady Baines added 23. Reuben Baldry had 19 and Jeter Heggie chipped in with 17.

Payson Hill was the leading scorer on Saturday with 22 points, as Drake Still (19), Heggie (18), Baldry (18) and Baines (14) each hit double figures.

The Magrath Zeniths went 1-1 last weekend to end the season with an 8-6 record, which was good enough for fourth place.

Friday featured a 91-87 loss to Cardston. Dray Walburger’s 27 points led all scorers, as Colton Finck had 21, Garrett Stock added 13 and Cody Tollestrup finished with 12.

In Saturday’s 107-86 win over Chinook. Tollestrup had a huge 34-point outing, while Walburger connected for 31. Stock added 21 and Mason Hoffman had 16.

In junior varsity league play, Raymond finished the year at 11-3 after weekend wins over Chinook (88-74) and WCHS (80-52).

Ryker Dewsbery had 26 in the win over Chinook, as Mason Leavitt added 15 and Jacob MacDonnell had 12.

West James was the leading scorer against WCHS with 20. Mason Leavitt had 13, MacDonnell added 11 and Konnor Kanyo chipped in with 10.

Magrath’s season ended with a 7-7 record after a Friday loss to Cardston (102-89) and a Saturday win over Chinook (87-57).

Levi Balderson (20), Ty Michelson (19), Hunter Cook (14), Joseph Van Bruggen (12) and J.T. Smith (11) all hit for double digits against Cardston.
Against Chinook, Balderson had 18, Van Bruggen connected for 14, Cook added 11 and Smith had 10.

In JV playoffs Monday, Raymond defeated Chinook 95-49. MacDonnell had 16, James added 15 and Dewsbery had 13 for the winning side. Josh Runquist scored 12, Daylen Wilde chipped in with 12 and Kanyo added 11.

The Comets were scheduled to face Cardston on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Raymond (score unavailable at press time). A win in that semifinal would put Raymond in the championship game on Saturday at noon.

Magrath also advanced to the playoff semifinal after Monday’s 89-80 win over Medicine Hat. Van Bruggen led Magrath with 20 points, as Espen Steffenson added 14. Balderson and Michelson had 10 each.

The Zeniths were in action Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Lethbridge against LCI.

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