Comets boys move into league's fifth place with win over Crusaders

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer

TACOMA - Putting together their best shooting game of the season, the Naselle Comets boys moved into fifth place in the Pacific League with a 65-54 win over the Tacoma Baptist Crusaders Saturday, Feb. 3, in the Crusaders gym. The Comets shot 56 percent and made 20 of 28 free throws in the win. The Comets league record improved to 6-7, 8-11 overall and gave Naselle sole possession of fifth place when South Bend lost 79-74 in double overtime to Northwest Christian.The Comets, with three players in double figures for the game, rolled to a 19-13 first quarter lead after trailing 7-13 and added an 18-7 second period, to lead 37-20 at the half. The Naselle scoring was led by Kyle Burkhalter with 24, Austin Burkhalter 13, Nathan Sultemeier 11, and Conor Smith with eight points."We had a chance to blow it open, but we kind of let them right back in it," said Naselle Coach Brian Macy about the big halftime lead. The Comets did just that as the Crusaders came back with a16-9 third period to trail 46-36 after three quarters. The Crusaders were able to narrow the lead to eight points in the closing minutes but the Comets made 13 free throws in the fourth period to help them to a 19-18 quarter. That advantage gave the Comets of their 11-point win.Macy summarized the game in this manner, "We were down 7-13 and went on a 23-2 run and ended up being ahead 37-20 at the half. We relaxed in the third and they came out with some intensity and got the lead down to 10 at the end of the third. I don't believe the game got any closer than eight points the rest of the way. We made our free throws down the stretch and ended up with the win. Except for a spot in the first quarter and relaxing too much in the third we played pretty good basketball."The Comets have one league game remaining, at second place Northwest Christian this Thursday, Feb. 8. South Bend, who is battling the Comets for fifth place, complete their season at league leading Willapa Valley, which is playing without its leading scorer Brady Langer, out with a broken hand. Ocosta, in fourth place in the league has its final two games with North Beach and Tacoma Baptist. The Wildcats would have to lose both of those games if Naselle was to be able to move into fourth place.Fifth place in the Pacific League appears to be where the Comets will complete the regular season, which means they will be at the Central League's fourth place team for their first district tournament game on Wed., Feb. 14. If they should finish sixth, they will play at the Central League's third place team on Wed., Feb. 14.

NASELLE (65) - Kyle Burkhalter 24, Austin Burkhalter 13, Nathan Sultemeier 11, Smith 8, Heagy 4, Griss 2, See 2, Ray 1, Hines, Erickson;

FG - 21 of 37 for 56 percent,
3's - 1 for 3,
FT - 20 of 28 for 72 percent;
Rebounds (24): K, Burkhalter 8, Smith 6;
Steals: K. Burkhalter 3;
Turnovers (16)

TACOMA BAPTIST (54) - Piwonski 17, B. Tuell 15, Yohann 10, Gillman 5, Palmquist 4, S. Tuell 3;

Rebounds (20)

Naselle 19 18 9 19 - 65
T. Baptist 13 7 16 18 - 54