Comets boys run over Valley

1/9/2008 12:01:00 AM

RAYMOND - The Naselle Comets boys used balanced scoring, backboard control, good ball handling, and pressure defense to run the Willapa Valley Vikings into the ground in a Pacific League basketball game played in the Raymond High School gym Thursday, Jan. 3. The Comets opened the New Year with a 55-34 win over the Vikings to run their league record to 2-2, 4-5 overall. Valley dropped to 0-4 in league, 1-7 overall.The Comets had three players in double figures and a fourth only one hoop away from double digits. Conor Smith's 16 points and nine rebounds led the Comets and he had lots of help from Austin Burkhalter with 14 points and eight rebounds, Nathan Sultemeier with 12 points, and Kyle Burkhalter with eight points, 10 rebounds and three assists.The Comets came out of the dressing room hitting on all cylinders in both the first and third periods. Naselle led 16-6 after the first quarter, and let up a little in the second stanza as the Vikings tied the Comets point production at 10-all. That sent the Comets into the dressing room with a 26-16 half-time lead. Naselle turned up the defensive pressure when they came out for the third quarter and the pressure paid off with a 16-4 Naselle advantage for a 22 point lead going into the final period. The Comets then coasted home with their 21 point win.Naselle was able to take nearly twice the amount of shots that Valley took, 75 to 42, largely due to their aggressive rebounding on the offensive boards. However, the Comets shooting percentage of only 31 percent did not allow them to take full advantage of their board work."We didn't play our best game, but looked very good in spurts," said Naselle coach Brian Macy. "I thought we lacked the focus we had during the Astoria Tourney. We still are struggling to find our shooting eye, from the field and free throw line."

Naselle (55) - Conor Smith 16, Austin Burkhalter 14, Nathan Sultemeier 12, Kyle Burkhalter 8, N.Hines 2, Gabe See 2, Erickson 1;
FG - 23-75,
FT - 5-11;
Rebounds (47): K. Burkhalter 10, Smith 9, A. Burkhalter 8;
Assists: K. Burkhalter 3;
Team Turnovers (11)

Valley (34) - Blade Bolden 8, Tom Colburn 8, Nissell 6, Friese 4, Mayfield 2, J. Lundy 2, T. Lundy 2, Freeman 2;

FG - 13-42, FT - 8-12 ; Rebounds (30)Team Turnovers (24)