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Velma-Alma’s Jaz Gayanich goes in for a layup over Healdton’s Donn Spellman during their game on Monday in Velma. Evan Grice/ The Duncan Banner

February 6, 2012

Comets round out regular season 23-0

Evan Grice The Duncan Banner The Duncan Banner Mon Feb 06, 2012, 11:30 PM CST

VELMA — Monday night saw the No. 4 Velma-Alma Comets send a clear message to the rest of the field in the playoffs: The road to Oklahoma City will run through Velma, one way or another.

V-A wasted no time in dismantling the Healdton Bulldogs on Senior night, as the Comets finished the regular season 23-0, thanks to a 72-12 victory.

“We really came out and established the tempo early in this game,” head coach Kenny Bare said. “Twenty-three and zero is a great feat but there are 96 teams who are starting 0-0 this weekend, including us.

“We’re happy with what we have accomplished but we want to do something very special in the playoffs.”

If there was any question about the Comets being motivated for this game, those doubts were squashed in the first quarter. Fast breaks and quick passes set the pace, as the Bulldogs simply had no answer for the high-flying Comets. V-A raced out to a 13-0 lead and kept the Bulldogs off the board for the rest of the quarter, leading 18-0 going into the second.

The good news for the Bulldogs in the second was, they got on the board. However, by the time HHS finally got off the mark, it was 35-2 at the 2:55 point of the second. V-A went into the locker room leading 43-5 and in cruise control.

“Our kids play hard every game and we want them to keep doing that,” Bare said. “We’re proud of the seniors and how they played tonight. Everyone tried to make this game and night as special as possible.”

After the break, the substitutions started to happen, as the pace slowed down. V-A led 64-9 going into the fourth quarter, and ran the clock down in the fourth.

Perhaps the only bad thing which happened for the Comets was shooting from behind the arc, which V-A went 2-of-10 from three point range. At the free throw line, V-A was 6-of-12 on the evening.

Leading the scoring for the Comets was senior Corbin Byford with 37 points. Fellow senior Tyler Smith scored nine, with juniors Checotah Lynn and Dallen Mercer not far behind each scoring eight on the evening.

Healdton was paced by Junior Marcus Long with three points on the evening.

V-A finishes the regular season 23-0 while Healdton falls to 1-15 on the season.

With a first round-bye already secured, the Comets will wait until Saturday night to start the playoffs against the winner of the Fox/Turner matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. from Turner High School. V-A will then host a regional matchup next Thursday.

“We know Area II is a tough bracket with a lot of good teams in it,” Bare said. “We need to continue to work hard and get better. These kids love coming to practice and we have a chance to do something special this season.”

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