Big final period nets Fishermen 61-49 win over Naselle

12/8/2007 8:39:00 AM
By KEVIN HEIMBIGNERObserver staff writer

ILWACO - Fishermen freshman point guard, Karl Oman, sank 10 consecutive free throw attempts in the final period and scored 21 points for the game as Ilwaco pulled away from Naselle to earn a 61-49 non-league win at Karl Aase Gymnasium Friday. The Comets had spurted to a 6-0 lead, but Ilwaco was ahead by 20-18 at the end of the second quarter and 33-31 after three periods before they netted a 28-18 edge in the final frame.Naselle held the advantage for the contest from the field, as they connected on 21 of 54 attempts (39 percent), while Ilwaco was a chilly 19 of 57 from the floor for 33 percent. The Fishermen's success from the charity stripe was a key to their win, as they shot 25 times and converted 18 shots (72 percent), while the Comets were 3-8 from the line for 38 percent.Neither team had spent a lot of time in the gym last week due to the storm that ravaged the area. Comet Coach Brian Macy said, "We still haven't found our rhythm or gotten into much of an offensive flow. We played excellent defense until the final period, but their size inside definitely bothered our shooters."Ilwaco mentor, Paul Jarrett, said, "Our kids have played with outstanding effort in all three games so far this season. The difference tonight was that our mental lapses weren't as often or for as long of a duration. We were happy to come away with a win against a very competitive basketball team."The first period began as an intense battle of man-to-man defenses. Connor Smith scored twice for Naselle and Kyle Burkhalter, who topped all scorers with 22 points, had a bucket and an assist to put the Comets up 6-0. Jordan DeSimone hit a trey for Ilwaco's first score with 3:18 to go in period one, cutting the lead in half. Field goals from Ryan Blake inside and Jack Whealdon outside helped the Fishermen close the gap to 8-7 after Nick Hines scored for Naselle in the initial quarter.Comet Austin Burkhalter got involved in the second period as he knocked down a "three," a field goal, and a free toss and Kyle scored another field goal to give Naselle their biggest lead of the game at 16-11. In the final two minutes of the first half Kolby Kirby came off the bench to sink a three-pointer and then reserve Whealdon knocked down a pair of three-bombs within 30 seconds of each other to put Ilwaco up by four. Kyle Burkhalter's hustle basket at the end of the second stanza made the score 20-18 in favor of the home team at intermission."Jack and Kolby really gave us a lift off the bench," Jarrett praised. "They both played great defense on Austin Burkhalter, took care of the basketball, and they both shot extremely well in key situations." The third period saw the lead change for the sixth time as Naselle went ahead on an Austin "three" and then Oman answered with two field goals to help Ilwaco regain the lead at 24-21.From mid-way through the second period until a minute into the final quarter neither team could muster more than a three-point lead as bodies flew and whistles seemed to blow at often puzzling times for both squads. Conor Smith scored three field goals to keep Naselle in the game in the third period, but Oman answered with a three-pointer and a pair of assists to end the period.Whealdon kicked off the final quarter with his third clutch shot from beyond the arc of the night and Oman sank two free throws to give Ilwaco a 38-31 lead. A basket inside by Austin Burkhalter and his old-fashioned three helped Naselle to close to 40-36. Down the stretch Kirby scored twice, Blake made a three-point play and Oman sank 10 consecutive foul shots (he was 12-12 from the line for the game) to help the Fishermen steadily pull away.Kyle Burkhalter scored 12 of his game-high point total in the final five minutes to keep Comets hope flickering, but in the end it was Oman's cool at the charity stripe and in handling the point guard duties that was the difference for the Fishermen. Another key to the contest for Ilwaco was when Austin Burkhalter picked up his fifth foul at the 3:10 mark and Jarrett alertly switched to a 2-3 zone defense with the Comet's outside shooting ace on the bench for the duration.Joining Oman in double-figures was Whealdon with 12 points for Ilwaco and Matt Kaino was the top rebounder with eight. For the Comets Austin Burkhalter added 14 points to Kyle's total of 22 and Conor Smith knocked in 10 points. Kyle and Austin Burkhalter each gathered in 11 boards and Smith added eight caroms.Jarrett said, "Matt Kaino played good defense on Kyle Burkhalter and Karl Oman is more than living up to expectations. The main thing for Karl is that he is having fun playing basketball and is growing in poise and confidence every time out."Naselle committed 24 turnovers to only 11 for the Fishermen, but the Comets dominated the taller Ilwaco five by out-rebounding the home team 47-35. Naselle was whistled for 22 fouls and Ilwaco was called for 13 fouls. The Fishermen sank seven three-point shots and the Comets connected on four treys. Ilwaco is now 1-2 on the season and the Comets are even at 1-1.

Naselle 8 10 13 18 --49
Ilwaco 7 13 13 28 --61

Naselle-Kyle Burkhalter 22, Austin Burkhalter 14, Conor Smith 10, Nick Hines 2, Nathan Sultemeier 1, Gabe See, Alan Erickson

Ilwaco-Karl Oman 21, Jack Whealdon 12, Ryan Blake 9, Kolby Kirby 7, Matt Kaino 6, Ryan Rodenbaugh 3, Jordan DeSimone 3


Naselle won the JV game for Coach Scott Smith 54-46. Leonel Mendoza with eight points, Ollie Baker with seven, and Marcos Herrera and John Hines with six led the Comets, who are now 2-0. Patrick Whealdon scored 13 and Justin Short added seven points for Kip Meinhardt's young Fishermen, who fall to 0-3. Naselle had built a 28-10 half-time lead, but Ilwaco drew to within 42-41 before the Comets pulled away for the victory.