Close, Not Out: Comets Basketball Showing Growth Beyond the Record

The record may say one thing, but anyone who’s watched the Western Iowa Tech men’s basketball team this season knows the Comets are far from outmatched. Night after night, they’ve gone toe-to-toe with opponents, turning games into battles decided by a handful of possessions. A couple of shots rim out. A defensive stop comes a second too late. Suddenly, a one-possession game lands in the loss column instead of the win column.

Those narrow margins don’t define a struggling team - they define a competitive one still finding its finishing touch. And for a Comets squad that has consistently stayed within striking distance, the message is clear: this season isn’t about falling short; it’s about being close - and getting closer.

That competitiveness shows up in more than just the final scores. The Comets have been efficient on the offensive end, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field while moving the ball well and finding quality looks. They’ve stayed disciplined at the free-throw line and have continued to put points on the board, even against tough competition.

More telling, though, is how often Western Iowa Tech has been right there late. Several games have come down to a single possession, a sign that this group isn’t being outplayed - just outlasted. Those are the margins that tend to shrink as a season progresses, as chemistry builds and experience takes hold. For a team already proving it belongs in tight games, the numbers point less to a ceiling and more to what’s still ahead.

That balance becomes even clearer when you look at the individual performances driving those close games. Caleb Kawela (Fr) has been a dominant force inside, ranking among the ICCAC Division II leaders with 18.2 points per game (3rd), 8.3 rebounds per game (4th), and the league’s third-highest field-goal percentage at 62.2 percent - all while having played just ten games this season. On the perimeter, Zeb Svoboda (So) has stretched defenses by knocking down 30 three-pointers en route to 152 points, often keeping games within reach late. Isaiah Lloyd’s (So) efficient scoring, along with contributions from Ronald Lee (So), Rashard White (So), and Terance Pittman (Fr), has added valuable depth across the lineup.

The backcourt, in particular, has provided steady production. Isaiah Lloyd has emerged as one of the team’s most efficient scorers, shooting 55.1 percent and totaling 93 points, while Ronald Lee and Rashard White have combined for 148 points, bringing versatility and balance on the wing. Add in timely contributions from Terance Pittman, Javier Sideregts, and sharpshooter Easton Bosanek, and it’s clear this isn’t a team relying on a single option - it’s a group with multiple players capable of stepping up.

Those individual efforts help explain why so many games have come down to the final minutes. The production is there. The balance is there. And as those pieces continue to come together, the Comets’ ability to finish close games may soon begin to match how competitive they’ve been all season.

As the season moves forward, Western Iowa Tech is finding its footing in ways the record alone can’t explain. The Comets have shown they can compete, share the load, and stay locked in against quality opponents - traits that often make the difference when tight games start to break the right way.

That mindset will be tested immediately when the Comets return home after the holiday break to face undefeated Iowa Western Community College on January 10. It’s a challenge, but also an opportunity - a chance to measure progress, set the tone for the second half of the season, and show just how close this team really is. As experience grows and execution sharpens, the difference between narrow losses and hard-earned wins continues to shrink. And for a group that’s been knocking on the door all season, the next chapter is about finishing what they’ve started.