Comets finish fifth in league, face Tigers Wednesday

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
By PHIL RAISTAKKAObserver corespondentLACEY - The Naselle Comets boys fell to fifth place in the Pacific League end of season placement after a by a loss against the league's second place team, the Northwest Christian Navigators, in Lacey Thursday, Feb. 8. The Comets "took one on the chin" from the Navigators, losing 67-40 to knock the Comets into fifth place in the Pacific League. Naselle's record dropped to 6-8 in league, and 8-12 overall. Northwest Christian is 16-3 overall, and 12-2 for second place in leagueThe first time that the Comets played NWC this season in Naselle, the Comets squeezed out a 58-53 win over the Navigators. That was only one of two league games that the Navigators lost. This time around, it was no contest after the first quarter. The Comets continued to play "bakery ball" with 26 turnovers hurting their chances to give the Navigators a run for the money as the Navigators were able to pour it on for the final 27-point margin.The Comets were able to stay with the Navigators through the first eight minutes as the teams battled to an 11-11 tie. However, the Navigators superior shooting, aided by Naselle turnovers, gave them three double-digit scorers for the game - Ryan Fox with 22, Matt Myers 15, and Kyle Cummings 10, and a fourth player Cameron Hamilton with eight points - as the Navigators more than doubled the second quarter score, 22-8, on the Comets. The Navigators led 33-19 at the half.It got worse in the third period. The Comets only had one double-digit scorer in the game, Austin Burkhalter with 14, while the Navigators big guns kept hitting bulls-eyes. The Navigators tacked on a 23-11 third period and then coasted home with an 11-10 fourth quarter for their huge 27 point win."This was probably - right next to the last Valley game - our poorest performance of the year," said Coach Brian Macy. "We have had several kids battling the flu bug this past week, Kyle (Burkhalter), Nathan (Sultemeier), Casey (Heagy) and Gabe (See). This is the first game this season that Kyle hasn't got double figures."The few assists, losing the rebound battle (25-30) and allowing three Navigators to score in double figures with a fourth just out of doubles, were indicators of how this game went for NHS.The Comets will open the District Tournament with a trip to the Central League's fourth place team, Napavine, Wednesday, Feb. 14. Napavine and White Pass tied for fourth place in the Central League and Napavine got the fourth place position on a coin flip. If Naselle wins their first tournament game. they will play Pacific 1 Willapa Valley at 6:30 p.m. in Montesano on Sat, Feb. 17. If they lose their first tournament game, they will play again on Monday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. in Montesano, against a team yet to be determined. Napavine has a 9-7 Central League record and is 12-8 overall.

Naselle 11 8 11 10 - 40
NWC 11 22 23 11 - 67

NASELLE (40) - Austin Burkhalter 14, K. Burkhalter 6, Smith 5, See 4, Heagy 3, Hines 3, Griss 2, Ray 2, Erickson 2, Sultemeier;

FG - 18 of 42 for 43 percent,
(3's) 1-3,
FT - 1 of 6:
Rebounds (25): Smith 5;
Turnovers (26)

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN (67) - Ryan Fox 22, Matt Myers 15, Kyle Cummings 10, Cameron Hamilton 8, Chase 4, Hobbes 4, Owens 2, Goff 3, Groeschell;

FG - 27 of 51 for 53 percent,
FT - 6-17:
Rebounds (30)

JV: NWC won