Comets beat NWC

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
Comets beat NWC, fall to Raymond
By PHIL RAISTAKKAObserver corespondent

DAMIAN MULINIX photoNaselle’s Emily Green saves a ball from out of bounds late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win over NWC.

NASELLE - The Naselle Comets girls' basketball team got back on the winning track with an easy 49-35 win over the Northwest Christian Navigators of Lacey on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Naselle's Lyle Patterson Gym. The Comets owned the boards with 52 rebounds, divided evenly between offensive and defensive rebounds. That board control gave the Comets control of the game. Coach Bob Torppa said, "When we get three players in double figures and 52 rebounds, we are hard to beat."The Comets did have three players in double figures, led by Ashley Ahlstrom with 13 points and 12 rebounds, earned in only two and a half quarters of play. Erin Saari topped the Naselle scorers with 15 points, plus six rebounds and four steals for her 60th steal of the season, and Brandi Keightley had 10 points, along with eight rebounds and five steals. Kellyn Pakenen had four assists to lead the Comets in that department.The Comets took control of the game from the opening tip, leading 14-8 after one period and 27-17 at the half. The Comets maintained their edge after the break with an 11-6 third period before closing out the game with an 11-12 fourth period for their 14-point win.The win raised the Comets league record to 4-3 and 7-6 overall. The Navigators' league record dropped to 3-4. The Comets have seven games remaining in their league season, beginning with Ocosta at Naselle on Monday, Jan. 22. A busy eight days of games has them going to Ocosta for a rematch on Thursday, Jan. 25, entertaining Willapa Valley on Saturday, Jan. 30, and traveling to South Bend on Tuesday, Jan 30. The results of that hectic week of basketball will go a long way toward determining where, and if, the Comets post-season hopes lie.

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN (35) - Wagner 14, Bodine 7, Post 6, Edwards 4, Isoz 2, Minton 2, Crasley, Collins
NASELLE (49) - Erin Saari 15, Ashley Ahlstrom 13, Brandi Keightley 10, Pakenen 4, Steppe 4, Landis 2, Klinger 1, Fletcher, Beaulaurier, Green;

FG - (2's) 19 of 49 for 39 percent,
(3's) 1 of 3,
FT - 8 of 15;
Rebounds (52): Ahlstrom 12, Keightley 8, Landis 8 Steppe 6, Saari 6, Pakenen 5, Fletcher 4; Assists (10): Pakenen 4;
Steals (14): Keightley 5, Saari 4;
Turnovers (20)