Comets, Net Gain win at Fab 48

The Minnesota Comets opened up their trip to Las Vegas with a victory over Boise Flight. At times the Boise squad, dressed in the town's trademark blue and orange, was a feisty frustrating problem for the St. Cloud based team but in the end the Comet guard play was too much.

Joe Burt kicked the game off with 14 first half points combining two weaving drives for scores with a pair of three-point makes. The St. Cloud Cathedral product looks to have taken the next step as a perimeter shooter as his comfort level in attempting the treys made everyone in the gym expect success.

Going into the break Tyler Vaughan didn't have his stroke going but his team was up 36-30 in a good part due to Vaughan's handling of the Boise ball pressure. Then in the second half it was Vaughan lighting up the scoreboard.

With Wofford, Western Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Minnesota State-Morehead, Augustana, St. Cloud State, and University of Mary looking on amongst others, Vaughan showed his supreme shooting talent. Back to back threes made a five point game a 57-46 advantage.

From there things were closed out with a 75-68 win led by Vaughan's 20 points on seven of 14 shooting including four three-point makes. Burt finished with a quality 19 for the game and Damien Reinke continued to show his shooting range with two three-point makes and 11 points.

Net Gain Sports defeated Salt Lake Metro Elite in a straight track meet 101 to 94. They were led by the 32 points from Zach Lofton who was efficient scoring on 10 of 12 shots and 10 of 13 free throws for 32 points. It wasn't an easy 32 either as Utah State committed Marcel Davis defended him most of the way. However, Lofton was still able to score with pull-ups and quick attempts off the dribble from all over the perimeter and his runner is filthy nasty.

Rashad Vaughn has so much talent it's almost scary to even think about. He put up 14 quick points in his team's win and it was hard to tell that everybody on the floor was 17 and 18 while he is only 14. The young man just has all the tools to offensively produce (length, athletic ability, confidence, ball skills, touch, etc) and as long as he continues to work hard and expand his game the nation's elite will come calling.

The Eric Robertson references to Dirk Nowitzki were at an all time high yesterday as the 6-foot-7 Robertson made a pair of treys within a minute's time and then went to the basket for a score on his way to 15 points in a win. The hair is the first Dirk trait and the skilled game follows it up for on-lookers.

Tommy McDermott did a strong job running the show for the team full of scorers assisting on five scores and producing three buckets himself. Riley Dearring had himself a seven point scoring burst all from the perimeter in the second half and Ater Manyang gave an eight point and seven board game.