Comets can't claw back

Courtesy of The Daily News
NASELLE ---- The never-say-die Naselle Comets rallied from a 15-point second-quarter deficit to make it a four-point game at halftime, but couldn't quite complete the comeback and fell to Willapa Valley 74-64 in a Pacific 2B League boys basketball game Thursday.Brady Langer scored a game-high 36 points for the Vikings, who outscored the Comets 24-11 in the third period to take command."We fought so hard to come back in the first half. They led 26-11 and we really played hard to make it 36-32 at halftime," Naselle coach Brian Macy said. "I just think we had a letdown in the third quarter."Willapa Valley began the third with a 10-0 run.Brothers Austin and Kyle Burkhalter led the Comets (4-6, 2-2 league) with 27 and 21 points, respectively, and both grabbed eight rebounds. Austin Burkhalter, a freshman, made 5-of-10 from 3-point territory.

WILLAPA VALLEY (74) -- Langer 36, Mayfield 2, Barrett 0, Bannish 13, Lundy 0, LeClair 2, Johnson 0, Anderson 15, King 0, Colburn 6, Landrom 0.

NASELLE (64) -- Nathan Sultemeier 6, Spencer Griss 0, Kyle Burkhalter 21, Austin Burkhalter 27, Conor Smith 0, Casey Heagy 2, Nick Hines 3, Gabe See 3, Alan Erickson 0.

Valley 16 20 24 14 -- 74
Naselle 11 21 11 21 -- 64