Comets girls lose to Vikings

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
NASELLE - The Naselle Comets girls could not duplicate their earlier win over the Willapa Valley Vikings, eared in the Ed "Bull" Tenoski Gym three weeks ago. This time, the Vikings returned the favor with a 56-42 win over the Comets in a Pacific League game played Saturday, Jan. 27, in Naselle's Lyle Patterson Gym. The loss dropped the Comets' league record to 6-4 and 9-7 overall. The Vikings league record improved to 7-4 and 10-7 overall. The Comets are now either in fifth or sixth place in the league, depending upon the results of some of the other teams' games.The middle two quarters of this game spelled doom for the Comets. Naselle started out well with an 18-15 first quarter and finished well with a 14-9 fourth period. However, the second quarter was especially tough on the Comets as they were outscored 15-3 in the period to go in at the half trailing 30-21. Things didn't improve much in the third quarter as a 17-7 period forced them into a 47-28 deficit entering the final eight minutes.Naselle was led by Ashley Ahlstrom with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. Cheryl Steppe was close to a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Erin Saari had a good all around game with seven points, seven rebounds and four assists while Kellyn Pakenen added nine rebounds.The Vikings were led by three players in double figures, but Chelsi Friese, who scored 42 points in the Vikings last game against Northwest Christian, was held to 15 points. However, Larissa Rohr with 21 points and Teylor Dickey with 12, provide much of the Valley firepower, along with Friese.The Comets finish their home league season this Friday, Feb. 2, against Tacoma Baptist. They then are on the road for their final two league games, at Northwest Christian on Feb. 6, and for a return game at Tacoma Baptist on Feb. 9. The Comets appear to have secured a spot in the district tournament, with their first district game on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at a site yet to be determined.

WILLAPA VALLEY (56) - Larissa Rohr 21, Chelsi Friese 15, Teylor Dickey 12, Eastham 3, Mullican 3, Crose 1, Stamper 1.

NASELLE (42) - Ashley Ahlstrom 11. Cheryl Steppe 10, Saari 7, Keightley 6, Pakenen 4, Green 4:
Rebounds: Ahlstrom 10, Pakenen 9, Steppe 8, Saari 7;
Assists: Saari 4

Willapa Valley 15 15 17 9 - 56
Naselle 18 3 7 14 - 42