Naselle girls win to assure themselves of at least a .500 league season

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer

SOUTH BEND - The Naselle Comets girls got all of their points from only four of their players as they beat South Bend 38-31 in a Pacific League girls' basketball game played in Don Koplitz Field House in South Bend Tuesday, Jan. 30. The win gave the Comets a 7-4 league record, 10-7 overall and assured the Comets of at least a .500 league season's finishing average with three games left to play. South Bend fell to 2-10 in league and 2-16 overall.The Comets slowly but steadily pulled away from South Bend in this rematch between the neighboring teams. Naselle's triple threat of Ashley Ahlstrom, Cheryl Steppe and Erin Saari helped the Comets earn the win, by each scoring 10 points. Brandi Keightley was just out of double figures with eight points.Naselle led 10-7 after one quarter, 20-15 at the intermission as Saari's half-court shot at the buzzer gave the Comets a five point half-time lead. The Comets were able to maintain their advantage through the second half, even though being outscored 9-11 in the third period, as they finished the fourth quarter with a 9-5 advantage for their seven point win. South Bend closed to within a point or two on numerous occasions in the second half, but never drew even.By the time that this story is in print (Feb. 7). the fifth place Comets will have entertained third place Tacoma Baptist in their last Pacific League home game of the season. Their remaining two games are at Northwest Christian, the team trailing the Comets in sixth place on Feb. 6, and a return game at Tacoma Baptist on Feb. 9. The Comets have a slim chance of finishing fourth in the Pacific League, which would give them a district tournament home game on Feb. 13 against the Central League's fifth place team. A more likely scenario will have the Comets finishing either fifth or sixth in league, which would have them playing on a Central League opponent's home court on Feb. 13.

NASELLE (38) - Ashley Ahlstrom 10, Sheryl Steppe 10, Erin Saari 10, Brandi Keightly 8, Pakenen, Beaulaurier, Landis, Klinger;

FG - 16-39 (.410).
FT - 5-12.

SOUTH BEND (31) - Sam. Anderson 10, Heffernan 9, Smith 7, Nisbet 2, Coma 2, Nhotsoubanh 1, McCoy;
FG - 12-34 (.353).
FT - 5-18