Comets boys win tenth league game

By PHIL RAISTAKKAObserver corespondent

NASELLE - The first time that these two teams met in a Pacific League game four weeks ago, the Naselle Comets boys came home with a 21 point win over the South Bend Indians, largely earned on the 33 points scored by Austin Burkhalter and the 13 added by brother Kyle Burkhalter. This time when the two teams met Thursday, Jan 31, in Lyle Patterson Gym, Indians coach Jon Pearson had inserted a diamond-and-one defense that would hopefully limit the scoring of Austin with a defense devised to deny him the ball and preventing him having any clear looks at the rim.It worked, for awhile, but someone forgot about Conor Smith. All that Smith did was score the first seven Naselle points and earn a double-double with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds in leading the Comets to a 70-50 win over the Indians. The Comets improved their league-leading record to 10-2, and 12-6 overall. South Bend dropped to 7-5 in league, and 10-8 overall.Naselle coach Brian Macy said, "South Bend played very well, we had a difficult time with their diamond and one on Austin, but eventually figured it out. Nathan Sultemeier and Gabe See being able to knock down some three's helped the cause. I think we played well at times, but still haven't put it all together yet. Hopefully this tough end to our season (Seaside, South Bend, Tacoma Baptist and Northwest Christian) will prepare us for the district tourney."Smith's 20 points led Naselle which had three double digit scorers. Austin Burkhalter added 17 points, with all but 13 of them coming in the second half, plus eight rebounds, and Kyle Burkhalter added 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in his usual top all around game. The other four players in the Comets seven man rotation provided solid support in scoring, rebounding, and defense.Randy Eang and Chase Michell led the Indians attack with 15 points each. Their other top scorer, freshman David Lorton, in a starting line-up along with four seniors, only scored seven points before fouling out with 1:23 left in the third quarter. The combined defensive efforts of first Kyle and then Austin Burkhalter were instrumental in holding Lorton's scoring down.With Smith scoring on his first three shots from close in, following assists by Kyle Burkhalter on two of the hoops, and on a Smith free throw, the Comets rolled to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of play. The Indians Michell finally got South Bend on the scoreboard with half of the quarter played. Kyle added a three point play and Alan Erickson scored on an offensive rebound and the Comets led 12-7 after one period with Austin not having taken a shot. However, Smith had picked up his second foul and was doing some pine time with over two minutes left in the period.The Indians opened the second period with a David Lorton 3-ball before Austin finally got in the scorebook by connecting on two of two free throws 30 seconds into the period. The Indians were to get points from four of their shooters in the quarter, while the Comets were also getting points from four of their players, including a 3-ball from Gabe See. The Indians were able to cut the Naselle lead to one point twice at mid-quarter, but Naselle points from Kyle, Smith, See, and Austin were enough to keep the Comets lead after an Indian 19-15 quarter sent the teams in at the half with the Comets holding a 27-24 lead.To this point, coach Pearson had to be pleased with his strategy. The Indians had held Austin to only four points and Kyle to six and the Indians were within three points of the league leaders. However, fouls and the subsequent free throws and timely shooting by the Comets were to prove to be hazardous to the Indians game plan.Smith opened the third quarter with another hoop, just as he had opened the game. Austin followed with a deuce plus a free throw and another two pointer. When Nathan Sultemeier drilled his first 3-ball of the game, the Comets lead had suddenly jumped to ten points. Eang responded with five straight points, including another 3-ball. Nick Hines retaliated with a hoop and Sultemeier canned his second trey of the period. Kyle added a three point play on a deuce plus one and Austin connected on 2 of 2 freebies when he drew Lorton's fourth foul of the game. Seconds later, Kyle connected on another freebie off Lorton's fifth foul and Austin closed out the quarter with a hoop from Kyle's assist. The Naselle lead had suddenly jumped to 12 points earned on a 23-14 third period that included four three points plays. Austin's nine third quarter points had led five Naselle scorers to their biggest lead of the game at that point.Even without the shooting of Sultemeier and Kyle, who were each benched by four fouls, the Comets continued to add to their lead in the fourth period. All five Comets on the floor at any one time joined in the scoring, The Naselle lead grew to 20 points at 63-43 on See's second trey of the game and the Comets coasted home with a 20-12 fourth quarter for their 70-50 win.In contrast to their previous game, the Comets shot much better, making 43 percent of their shots from the floor and 71 percent at the foul line. The Indians made 42 percent of their field goal tries and 62 percent of their free throws.The Comets boys now will play their two most crucial games of the season. They traveled to take on the state-ranked Tacoma Baptist Crusaders on Saturday, Feb. 2. The Crusaders were tied with the Comets for first place in the league with a 10-2 record coming into that game, but the Crusaders have the tie-breaker due to an earlier win over the Comets. The Comets will close out their regular season Saturday, Feb. 9, when they entertain Northwest Christian, a team which is in third place only one game behind the two leaders.

South Bend 5 19 14 12 - 50
Naselle 12 15 23 20 - 70

South Bend (50) - Randy Eang 15, Chase Michell 15, Howard 8, Lorton 7, Lazelle 2, Huber 2, Spoor 1;

FG - 19-45 (42%). FT 8-13 (62%)

Naselle (70) - Conor Smith 20, Austin Burkhalter 17, Kyle Burkhalter 11, N. Hines 6, Sultemeier 6 See 6, Erickson 4, J. Hines, Macy, Mendoza;

FG - 27-for-63 (43%),
FT - 15-for-21 (71%);
Rebounds: Smith 11, A. Burkhalter 8. K. Burkhalter 7;
Assists: K. Burkhalter 3

The Naselle JVs avenged an earlier loss to the Indian JVs with a come from behind 46-44 win. The Comets trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half before they made their come-back. Manny Lopez led the Naselle scorers with 16 points. Coach Scott Smith said, "South Bend got a little tired and we were able to substitude and keep fresh legs on the floor. This was a great win for these guys. We avenged a 6 point lose at South Bend 48-42. We have won 11 games and lost 5. This group has had a great year. We beat Valley twice and now South Bend. We lost by two to Tacoma Baptist but it does not look like we will play them again."