FALLSBURG – The Lady Comets were outmatched from the opening tip Tuesday night, falling 65–29 to a well-organized and disciplined Rondout Ganders squad.

Rondout set the tone early, erupting for 25 first-quarter points and forcing the Comets to play from behind the rest of the way. Though Fallsburg showed brief flashes of offense, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Sophomore point guard Paolo Deras provided one of the few bright spots for the Comets, scoring 12 points and knocking down three three-pointers. However, without consistent scoring support, the night became more about battling through turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and mounting frustration than closing the gap.

Rondout’s Jalyssa Garcia dominated the game, pouring in 21 points while controlling the pace from the guard position. Peyton Kastanis added 14 points, while Adrienne Bush and Liz Hannigan chipped in eight apiece to round out a balanced Ganders attack.

For the Comets, it was a long night marked by limited scoring, and too many turnovers. Still, one constant remains: this is a young team learning how to play together.

Head coach Ballard acknowledged the early struggles following the game.

“They came out strong in the first quarter and made my girls agitated,” Ballard said. “We gave up 25 points, which is usually what I see in a whole basketball game. We have work to do during the break. Kudos to Rondout—Garcia (#12) was hitting shots as always and getting big rebounds.”

Ballard emphasized that improvement will come with time and repetition, particularly on the defensive end.

“Eventually, we run a 1-2-2 or a 1-2-3,” he said. “I just need more time to work with the girls on the fundamentals of man-to-man and box-and-one. We’ve got to cut down the turnovers, beat the press, and execute—not just run our plays.”

With the holiday break ahead, the Comets will return to fundamentals and repetition. While the scoreboard told a difficult story, games like this often reveal where growth is needed most.

It’s a test for any young team to face a squad that understands the game, executes cleanly, and capitalizes on mistakes—and for the Comets, that test may ultimately fuel better performances in the weeks ahead.