Comet boys run over Ocosta

NASELLE - It was no contest from practically the opening tip as the Naselle Comets boys ran over and around the Ocosta Wildcats in a Pacific League basketball game played Tuesday, Jan. 8, in Naselle's Lyle Patterson Gym. The Comets won their fourth successive game, and fifth out of their last six games, in beating the Cats 89-35. Naselle is now 4-2 in league games and 6-5 overall.The Comets scored the highest number of points that they have scored in a game this year, 89, and they probably could have topped the century mark if coach Brian Macy had elected to play his top guns longer than the abbreviated minutes that the main scoring starters did play. As it was, five Comets scored in double figures with a sixth only one shot away from double digits.Two of the Comets top reserves who have not been among the scoring leaders this year, Gabe See with 17 points and Alan Erickson with 10 points (and 13 rebounds), were among the Naselle leaders. Austin Burkhalter with 17 points, Kyle Burkhalter 16, Nathan Sultemeier 14, and Conor Smith 8 also led the balanced Naselle scoring. The Comets were successful on 52 percent of their shots for some of their best shooting of the season.Coach Macy elected to start Erickson at one of the front court positions and the move to the burly sophomore immediately paid dividends as he racked up a double-double and led the Naselle board patrol against the smaller, out-manned Cats who were playing with only seven players. They were without their leading scorer Kevin Spivey, who has averaged 25 points a game, but was injured in a game last week. Erickson pulled down an offensive rebound only a few seconds into the game, one of 13 that he nabbed - especially in the opening period - and he was fouled. His two free throws started the Comets scoring parade.When the first period surge was over, the Comets had earned a 32-5 lead, getting points from five players, led by the brothers Burkhalter, Kyle with 11 and Austin with 10, and Erickson with six points. Nick Hines added three and See two points as the Comets went on an early 17-1 run and then on a 9-0 burst inside the last two minutes of the quarter. While the offensive fireworks were going off, the Naselle defense and rebounding shut the Cats down offensively.Nathan Sultemeier opened the second quarter with a 3-ball, one of two treys that he was to make in the game, and two free throws to extend the Comets scoring streak to 14 straight. Austin Burkhalter, who had canned two treys in the first quarter, added a third triple in the second stanza for his only points of the period in limited playing time. Kyle Burkhalter picked up five points in equally limited playing time in the period and See added a deuce for an 18-9 second period advantage. The Comets went in at the half leading 50-14.The Comets continued right where they left off, starting the third period on an 8-0 run. Conor Smith popped in eight points in the quarter while Austin added four and See five points. The Cats had their best scoring period of the game with Kaylan Forbis leading the way, but Naselle's 17-11 scoring advantage gave the Comets a 67-25 lead going into the final eight minutes.By this juncture, coach Macy had his bench players working full time. Sultemeier responded with seven more points including a 3-ball, See added eight, Erickson four and Drew Macy two. Freshman Leonel Mendoza was the only Comet not to put points on the board and three of has shots just did rim out. The lineup of mainly Naselle reserves kept the pressure on the Cats with a 22-10 final quarter and the Comets had their decisive win. Forbis was the only Wildcat that the Comets defense didn't corral and he led all scorers with 24 points.

Ocosta 5 9 11 10 - 35

Naselle 32 18 17 22 - 89

Ocosta (35) - Kaylan Forbis 24, Joey Mitchell 7, Duber 2, Cooney 2, Quimby, Oglesby

Naselle (89) - Austin Burkhalter 17, Gabe See 17, Kyle Burkhalter 16, Nathan Sultemeier 14, Alan Erickson 10, Smith 8, N. Hines 5, Macy 2, Mendoza;

Rebounds: Erickson 13, A. Burkhalter 7;

Assists: Hines 5

The Comets JVs set the tone for the night's action as they walloped the Ocosta JVs 69-26.