The Ballard men's basketball team suffered a tough 57-52 loss to conference rival North Polk on Friday night at The Hangar.  The Comets, who played an aggressive second half, handed the No. 1-ranked Bombers their first defeat of the season in a hard-fought contest.

Ballard came out strong in the first quarter, jumping to a 16-4 lead behind sharp shooting and solid defense.  However, the Comets quickly found their rhythm, and by halftime, they had cut the deficit to just 20-16, setting the stage for an intense second half.

North Polk's offense exploded in the third quarter, scoring 21 points to seize a 37-30 lead going into the final frame. Despite a late push from the Bombers, who scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, North Polk held strong, closing out the game with a 57-52 win.

Ballard's defense was solid at times, forcing 12 turnovers, but the team struggled to slow down North Polk's offensive attack in the second half, as the Comets found success in both transition and half-court sets.

With the loss, Ballard falls to 11-1 overall and 10-1 in the conference.  The team will look to bounce back quickly as they travel to No. 11 Carlisle on Tuesday, January 28, for a 7:30 PM showdown.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography