Lady Fishermen squeak by Comets

Courtesy of Chinook Observer


DAMIAN MULINIX photoIlwaco’s Allison Brooks and Anna Kitzman rush Naselle’s Jenny Klinger as she heaves three at the end of Thursday’s game. The shot, if made, would have cut Ilwaco’s lead to two with only seconds remaining.



DAMIAN MULINIX photo
Erin Saari, who scored 9 points in the game, wrestles away a loose ball from ilwaco’s Anna Kitzman.






By KEVIN HEIMBIGNERObserver staff writer
ILWACO - Lanie Kary's jump-hook in the paint with 36 seconds remaining put Ilwaco up by five and the Lady Fishermen held off a feisty Naselle team 49-46 in non-league girls' basketball action Thursday at Aase Gymnasium.Ilwaco had built a 34-23 halftime lead by shooting 56 percent from the field with five players making the scoring column and holding Naselle to a 33 percent ratio and had turned the basketball over only six times in the first two periods while out-rebounding the Comets 13-7 at popcorn time.In the third period both teams tossed the suddenly slippery orb away a dozen times apiece and the Comets led by Jenny Klinger's five points and Cheryl Steppe's four outscored Anna Kitzman, who tallied two field goals and two free throws, 9-6 in the sloppily played quarter. Steppe continued to score in the final period as her free toss with 1:54 brought Naselle to within three points. Kary hit a bucket off of an offensive rebound, but Erin Saari's pass to Collette Beaulaurier with 1:10 remaining in the fray made the score 47-44 in favor of the Lady Fishermen.Allison Brooks found Kary with a perfect pass with 36 ticks of the clock for her game-clinching hoop as the 30-second clock buzzer was going off. Steppe scored at the final horn to end the contest at 49-46. Naselle coach Bobby Torppa said, "We had our chances. We missed too many free throws down the stretch and could have made some better decisions at times, been more under control, but I'm proud of how we came back against a good team." Torppa's troops were missing leading scorer Brandi Keightley who broke her little finger in a PE class Thursday.The Comets finished 13 of 27 from the line (48 percent), and were only 4-10 in the final period. Ilwaco potted nine of 16 from the charity stripe for 56 percent. The Lady Fishermen shot the basketball well from the floor, sinking 19 of 41 for 46 percent efficiency while the Comets were 15-40 for 38 percent. Both teams finished with 24 turnovers and the Lady Fishermen used their size advantage to out-board Naselle 26-21.Saari for Naselle had five assists to lead all players in that category and Steppe had seven rebounds, while Brooks led Ilwaco with six boards. Kitzman scored 20 points and Kary 18 to lead the Lady Fishermen and Steppe banked home 17 markers for the Comets.Foul trouble for Ilwaco took its toll in the second half as Kitzman and Kary each had to spend some pine time because they had four infractions and point guard Bonnie Perez, who finished with five points and two assists, eventually fouled out. The home team was whistled for 19 fouls while Naselle committed 17 infractions. Ilwaco coach Ned Bittner had praise for Tara Hankins and Alexa Moses' solid play in reserve roles.Bittner said, "At times the game wasn't real pretty, but a win is a win against our rivals."Ilwaco improves to 3-1 and Naselle is 0-2 on the season.

The Comet JV's broke open a close contest in the final period to win 34-29. Emily Green scored 15 and Nicole Laney 10 for the winners while Ilwaco, who had a two-game win streak going into the contest, was led by Marin McDonnell's nine and Erin Kelly and Aimee Banuet's seven points each.Naselle - Steppe 17, Saari 9, Klinger 6, Pakenen 4, Beaulaurier 4, Ahlstrom 6Ilwaco - Kitzman 20, Kary 18, Perez 5, Bliss 4, Moses 2