Comets trounced by Vikings

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
MENLO - The Naselle Comets will miss it like an unwelcome distant relative when they next meet the Willapa Valley Vikings in a Vikings home basketball game. The "it" being the 70-year-old Vikings under-sized home court, the Ed "Bull" Tenoski Gym, where the Comets suffered one of their worst losses of the year in a 78-45 loss to the Vikings Friday, Jan. 26. The Comets loss dropped their Pacific League record to 4-7 and 6-11 overall. The league leading Vikings improved to 9-1 in league and 9-7 overall.The Tenoski gym is scheduled to be torn down shortly after this season is over and replaced with a brand-new full-size gym as part of a new school replacement project. The Vikings will be "gym-less" next season, practicing in the old Lebam High School/Grade School cracker-box gym and playing some of their "home" games on the courts of neighboring schools like Raymond and South Bend. The new Willapa Valley gym and school will open for the 2008-09 school year with a normal sized court that will seat about 900 spectators.The Comets won't miss it, as over the 70-year history of the "Bull-Pen," the Comets have suffered at the hands of the home court Vikings more times than they have prospered, especially in recent years. This year was no exception as the Brady Langer-led Vikings nearly doubled the score on the Comets. Langer went off for 32 points and 13 rebounds and he was joined by three other Vikings in double figure scoring and a doubling of the rebound advantage over the Comets at 49-24 boards.Naselle was only able to respond with one player in double figures as Kyle Burkhalter had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. While seven more Comets scored, none of them were near double figures. The Comets only shot 29 percent from the floor and experienced their third lowest scoring output of the season.The results were predictable as Valley raced out to a 29-10 first quarter lead, 50-23 at the half. The Vikings then coasted home with a 19-22 second half for their big win.The Naselle Comets and their fans could only think, "Thank you, Bull Pen, for all of the memories but it will be nice seeing you in the rearview mirror."The Comets boys' last regularly scheduled home game will be against South Bend Thursday, Feb. 1 in Lyle Patterson Gym. It should be a dandy!The Comets remaining two league games are at Tacoma Baptist on Feb. 3 and at Northwest Christian in Lacey on Feb. 8. The Comets boys have not yet wrapped up an appearance in the district tournament, but if they do qualify, their first game will be Wednesday, Feb. 14, at a site yet to be determined.

NASELLE (45) - Kyle Burkhalter 19, A. Burkhalter 6, Heagy 5, Smith 4, See 4, Sultemeier 3, Griss 2, Martin 2, Ray, Hines, Erickson;
FG - 16-55 for 29 percent.
FT - 11-18 for 61 percent;
Rebounds (24): K. Burkhalter 11

WILLAPA VALLEY (78) - Brady Langer 32, Mike Anderson 13, Rick Bannish 10, Josh Mayfield 10, Colburn 8, Barrett 2, Johnson 2, La Claire 1;
FG - 35-60 for 58 percent .
FT - 7-12 for 58 percent;
Rebounds (49): Anderson 17, Langer 13;
Assists: Langer 5;
Steals: Langer 3