Game of the Season

SEASIDE 72, NASELLE 67 (OT)
Matt Richert Reporting (KAST 1370)

Chris Senick knocked in a jumper from the top of the key with two seconds remaining in regulation and Ed Kauffunger scored four of his 16 points in overtime as the Seaside Seagulls knocked off Naselle 72-67 at Lyle Patterson Gymnasium Monday night.The Comets saw their nine game winning streak come to and end, but not without a fight as they came back from an 18-point second half deficit and were in a position to win the game in regulation.Held to just four points in the first half, Naselle senior leader Kyle Burkhalter did what a senior leader does--put the team on his occasionally balky shoulders. Burkhalter tallied 17 of his game-high 21 points after halftime, but it was sophomore younger brother Austin's driving layup with 13 seconds left that put the Comets up 65-63. Fouled on the play, Burkhalter came out of the huddle with a chance to ensure overtime."We called time out and had a play called for whether he made it or missed it," said Seaside head coach Bill Westerholm. "He missed and we pushed the ball and ran the play for Senick to come off the double pick. They covered the three and he hit a 2-pointer just inside the top of the circle with about two seconds left."Senick, who was shut out on 0-for-4 shooting in a 49-38 loss at Astoria Thursday, finished with 15 points in the contest."[Astoria] did do a good job defending him," said Westerholm, "but we didn’t do anything to get him open either. This game we felt was a chance to get back on track and get some confidence."Missing starting junior post Justin Laird, who is still bothered by a sore back, the Seagulls posts Ed Kauffunger and Austin Schneider rarely left the floor. Kauffunger had a big night with team highs of 16 points and 21 rebounds, believed to be a single-game high during the Westerholm era."He’s been really consistent for us," said Westerholm of the 6-5 lefty Kauffunger, like Burkhalter a 4th-year varsity senior. "All year he’s been scoring over 15 points per game."The slim rotation took it's toll when Damian Olivar fouled out early in the fourth quarter. Naselle, keyed by the all-around play of the Burkhalters and the pestering perimeter defense of Nick Hines, went on a run in the final period to take the lead in the final seconds before Senick's heroics."They ran some 1-2-2 trapping in the full court," Westerholm said. "We finally figured that out, then they went to man and Hines gave [Seagulls point guard] Dom [Walker] a little bit of trouble. We didn’t get into our offenses and had some silly turnovers. They capitalized and hit some shots. "We really didn’t have an answer to stop Kyle Burkhalter. He really took the team on his shoulders when they were down 18."Seaside sealed the game with 3-for-4 shooting at the foul line in the final minute of OT, holding Naselle to a single field goal in the extra session.After being held under 40 points at Astoria, the Gulls were able to light up the scoreboard and shoot over 50% against another formidable man-to-man defensive team"Our game plan going in was to push the basketball and get back on track," said Westerholm, whose Gulls begin the second half of Cowapa League play at Tillamook a week from Wednesday with a 9-8 overall record. "We felt like against Astoria we laid back and didn’t play our game. It was nice to see how Chris Senick got off."Senick finished 8-for-13 from the field and Kauffunger converted 7-of-14 field goal attempts. Nathan Farmer (2-for-4 on 3-pointers) and Jeremy Carow each added eight points off the bench. Naselle (11-6 overall), still tied with Tacoma Baptist atop the Pacific 2B League standings at 9-2, hosts South Bend on Thursday before closing the regular season with a pair of huge games at Tacoma Baptist and home against Northwest Christian on back-to-back Saturdays.

SEASIDE 17-19-17-12 7—72
Carow 8, Senick 15, Walker 7, Olivar 6, Kauffunger 16, Schneider 6, Farmer 8, Cooper.
FG: 29-56-
3-pt: 3-8
FT: 11-19-
Reb: 43
TO: 15

NASELLE 9-19-13-24 2—67
Sultemeier 8, N. Hines 8, See 2, K. Burkhalter 21, A. Burkhalter 14, Erickson 5, Smith 9.

team stats not reported