Comet boys held to 22 points by Napavine

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
2/21/2007
By PHIL RAISTAKKAObserver corespondent

DAMIAN MULINIX photoNaselle’s Conor Smith has the ball wrestled away by a Napavine defender Wednesday night. The defense of the Tigers earned them a 54-22 win over the Comets to advance in the District 4 tournament.

NAPAVINE - The Naselle Comets boys hadn't run up against anything like it since they lost to Astoria while scoring only 30 points in the Christmas Tournament half a season ago. The "it" in this case was the defense of the Napavine Tigers who all but shut down the Comets' offense in Naselle's 54-22 loss to the Tigers in their opening game of the District 4 Boys 2B Basketball Tournament played on Wednesday, Feb. 14, in the Tigers gym. Happy Valentines Day, indeed.The Comets were not only held to their lowest point total in years, but they were only allowed to take 35 shots, making a miserly 20 percent of them, and were out-rebounded 40-22. Coach Brian Macy said, "Their defense just kind of took us out of everything we tried to do."It didn't start out that way. With Kyle Burkhalter leading the way, the Comets took a 10-9 first quarter lead. But that lead quickly evaporated as the Tiger "D" held the Comets scoreless in the second period while they were efficiently scoring 16 points. The Tigers led 25-10 at the half.It was to get no better in the second half as Kyle was Naselle's only consistent scorer with 15 game points. In fact, only two other players scored, led by Conor Smith with five points. Seven other Comets did not score a point - the Tiger defense was that tough. Naselle trailed 39-19 after three periods and they were only able to muster up three points in the final stanza while Napavine tallied 15 on the way to their 32-point win.Napavine was led by a group of four shooters, only one of them a senior. Casey Carns, a 6-foot 5-inch junior, led all scorers with 16, Kirk Vigre, a 6-foot 6-inch junior, added 15, Kellen Ashmore, a 6-foot 4-inch senior, had eight, and Blake Anthony, a 6-foot 1-inch sophomore, had seven points. The Tigers are only losing three seniors off their roster this year and they will return nine players next season who average nearly 55 points a game. Remember, this season the Tigers only finished fourth in the locally powerful Central League. But look out next year, if not this season!The teams which are playing in the semi-finals include three from the Central League and one from the Pacific League. The lone representative of the Pacific League, Valley, had to score nine points in the last minute and a half to tie Napavine and then beat them in overtime 60-56 to allow the Vikings to meet Toutle Lake in one of the semi-final games. Mossyrock vs. Cathlamet will meet in the other half of the semis.The losers' bracket has five Pacific teams and three Central teams. With Naselle vs. Northwest Christian in one of the games, a Pacific league team is sure to be eliminated. The other three games feature North Beach vs. White Pass, South Bend vs. Napavine and Ocosta vs. Morton, giving the Pacific League a chance to have four teams still alive in the losers bracket.The Comets jump from the frying pan into the fire with a Monday, Feb 19, losers-out game. The Comets will play Northwest Christian, which lost to Mossyrock in their first tournament game. The Comets and Navigators split in their two regular season league games. If the Comets win their Monday's game, they will play again on Thursday, Feb. 22, in Rochester. If the Comets lose the Monday game, their season is over.





NASELLE (22) - Kyle Burkhalter 15, Conor Smith 5. Austin Burkhalter 2;


FG - 7 of 35 for 20 percent,


3's - 1 of 6,


FT - 5 of 12;


Rebounds (22);


Turnovers (11)





NAPAVINE (54) - Casey Carns 16, Kirk Vigre 15, Kellen Ashmore 8, Blake Anthony 7, Ramirez 2, B. Keller 2, Hilley 2, Lantau 2;


Rebounds (40)

Comets stymied by Tiger defenses

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
2/21/2007
By PHIL RAISTAKKAObserver corespondent

DAMIAN MULINIX photoKellyn Pakenen, Erin Saari and Ashley Ahlstrom can do nothing but watch as the final minutes tick away on their district playoff game with Napavine Saturday night in Castle Rock. The rentless defense by the Tigers held Naselle to just four points in the last three quarters of the game.

2B District 4 Basketball PlayoffsComets stymied by Tiger defensesNapavine girls stay undefeated with 56-12 win in district playoff
CASTLE ROCK - Going into their opening District 4 Girls 2B Basketball Tournament game against the Naselle Comets, the Napavine Tigers had a 20-0 season record and a number one ranking in the state's class 2B girls basketball poll. Coming out of the game, the Tigers improved to 21-0 as they crushed the Comets 56-12 in the game played in the Castle Rock High School gym Friday, Feb. 16. The Comets season record dropped to 13-10.The Comets were within striking distance of the Tigers through one quarter as they only trailed 14-8 after one. However, the Comets were only able to get off 30 shots in the game, including 0 for 7 from three-point range, and they were only able to make 13 percent of their shots. That lack of offense spelled disaster for the Comets as they were outscored 12-2 in the second quarter, 18-0 in the third period and 12-2 in the fourth quarter.Only one of the Comets, Ashley Ahlstrom, shot well as she scored six points on 3-of-5 shooting. Three other Comets scored while the rest of the Naselle roster went scoreless. The Tigers were led by their 5-foot 5-inch guard Courtney May with 16 points and their 6-foot senior center Alicia Richardson with 15 points.This Tiger team is a "now" team as well as a team for the future. They only have three seniors on their roster, Alicia Richardson, one of their scoring leaders. The rest of the team roster includes three juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen. The only thing that the Tigers appear to be missing in future years is height as their nine returning players, with almost a 42 point scoring average, top out at 5-foot 7-inches in height.The Comets girls, now in the losers' bracket, where one more loss ends their season, took on the Wahkiakum Mules Monday. Feb. 19. The first time that these two teams met this season, in the fourth game of the year, the Comets beat the Mules 31-22. The Mules dropped into the tournament's losers' bracket with a 73-41 loss to the Valley Vikings in their tournament opener. If the Comets win their Monday game, they will play again at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21, in Rochester against the winner of the Tacoma Baptist-Raymond game. If the Comets lose their Monday game, their season is over.

Naselle (12) - Ashley Ahlstrom 6, Cheryl Steppe 3, Colette Beaulaurier 2, Sandra Rodriguez 1; FG - 4 of 30 for 13 percent,
3's - 0 of 7,
FT - 4 of 10 for 40 percent;
Rebounds (23): Ahlstrom 4, Steppe 4, Saari 4;
Assists: Pakenen 2; Blocks: Ahlstrom 2;
Steals: Landis 2;
Turnovers (34)

Napavine (56) - Courtney May 16, Alicia Richardson 15, Hamre 5, Erven 5, Goettelmen 4, Potter 2, S. Hylton 2, G. Hylton 2, McNelly 2, Lantau 2;
Turnovers (19)

Comets girls beat Huskies with huge fourth quarter in tourney opener

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
2/21/2007
NASELLE - Things didn't look good. The Naselle Comets girls were trailing the Morton Huskies by eight points with 2:11 to go in the third quarter of their opening District 4 Girls Basketball Tournament game played in Naselle's Lyle Patterson Gym Tuesday, Feb. 13. The Comets had slowly but steadily fallen further behind as they trailed by one point at the end of one quarter, by two points at the half, and now they had been outscored 7-0 in the opening four minutes of the third period.Then, to further compound the Naselle problems, the Comets' Erin Saari (nine game points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals) went down with a twisted ankle in a scrum under the Naselle basket and she had to be helped off the court with 3:21 to play in the third period. To that point, Saari had only scored one point but her presence had been a big factor in the Comets' scheme of things.Ashley Ahlstrom (12 game points) responded with a hoop to get the Comets within five points but a Morton basket and a later free throw by 6-foot 1-inch Frannie Morrison gave the Huskies that eight point lead. Naselle's Brandi Keightley (11 game points) then took matters into her own hands, drained a three-ball from the corner, took an entry pass and scored from inside the paint and stole the ball but missed the shot when she was apparently fouled on a no-call. Keightley's five points brought the Comets within three points at 23-26 as the quarter ended with Ahlstrom stealing the ball but missing a quarter ending break-away.As the fourth quarter opened, fouls quickly became an issue. Kellyn Pakenen, the point guard of the Comets offense and defense, quickly drew her third and fourth fouls within seconds of each other, but she remained in the game. Pakenen was to play all but the final 1:06 when she finally drew her fifth foul on what looked to be good check on a Huskies break-away. The Huskies' Morrison drew her fourth foul between Pakenen's two fouls, and the tall Husky was benched with seven minute left to play.At that point, Assistant Coach Greg "Doc" Nelson must have performed some off-court magic on Saari's ankle and she was able to return to the court after missing only about five minutes of actual playing time. The first thing that Saari did was drain a long distance trey to tie the score at 26 with 6:23 left in the game. That was the first time the Comets had been in that close since a 16-16 tie with over two minutes left in the first half.Needless to say, the "Comet Crazies," the Naselle student body rooting section, went bonkers. Keightley followed with a steal and a lay-in for a Naselle lead only so see the Huskies' Whitney Self (13 game points) score for the Huskies. Ahlstrom came back with a hoop off a drive, which ignited a 9-0 Naselle run in less than three and a half minutes and an explosive response from the Naselle rooters.Included in that run were a hoop by Keightley from a Saari assist, a Pakenen break-away off a Keightley steal and another Saari three-ball. That last basket gave the Comets a 37-28 lead with 3:30 to play. Morrison, who had re-entered the game, countered with a score from in the paint, only to be matched by a Saari deuce to regain the Comets nine-point lead with 2:03 left.The Comets then took care of business with Ahlstrom's four points on two of two foul shots and a hoop from inside the paint more than matching the Huskies three free throws and the Comets had their 10-point win in their first tournament game of the season. The Comets season record climbed to 13-9 with the win.All of the Naselle points came from their five starters with Ahlstrom picking up 12, Keightley 11, Saari nine, Cheryl Steppe seven and Pakenen four. Steppe led the Comets' board patrol with 12 rebounds and she scored all six of Naselle's points in the second period when her play and the play of subs Colette Beaulaurier and Jenny Klinger helped to keep the Comets close to the Huskies. Saari added 10 rebounds to her nine points and she also led the Comets in assists (four) and steals (four).The Comets had done practically everything right, except their shooting, in earning the win. Their defense and rebounding were outstanding in forcing the Huskies into 20 turnovers and in grabbing 32 rebounds. However the Comets three-point shooting again was better than their two point tries and their free throw shooting was horrendous at only 25 percent (four of 16).The Comets will have to improve their shooting and maintain the other parts of their game if they hope to stay with the state's number one ranked 2B girls team, the Napavine Tigers, in their next game. The Tigers, 20-0 for the season, and the Comets, 13-9, played in the Castle Rock High School gym at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb 16. The winner of that game moves on to the semis on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The loser of that game, played on Monday, Feb, 19, has only one more loss standing between them and a season-ending ouster from the tournament.

Morton (33) - Whitney Self 13, Morrison 7, Nilson 7, Sumers 4, Gaut 2, Franz 0;
Turnovers (20)

Naselle (43) - Ashley Ahlstrom 12, Brandi Keightley 11, Erin Saari 9, Cheryl Steppe 7, Kellyn Pakenen 4;
FG (2's) 15 of 43 for 35 percent,
(3's) 3 of 8 for 38 percent,
FT - 4 of 16 for 25 percent;
Rebounds (32): Steppe 12, Saari 10, Ahlstrom 4;
Assists: Saari 4; Steals (12): Saari 4, Keightley 3, Ahlstrom 3, Pakenen 2;
Turnovers (16)

Erin Saari named to the Pacific 2B All-League girls basketball

Courtesy of The Daily News
Pacific League first team includes Naselle's SaariNaselle senior standout Erin Saari was named to the first team of the Pacific 2B All-League girls basketball squad in a vote of the league's coaches.Chelsi Friese of Willapa Valley was chosen the league's Most Valuable Player. Other first-team picks included Amanda Erickson of North Beach, McKnzy Miller of Raymond, Amber Finley of Tacoma Baptist, Kathleen Post and Lindsey Wagner of Northwest Christian, North Beach teammates Tashia DeLaCruz, Amanda Erickson and Kylie Williams, and Larissa Rohr of Willapa Valley.Honorable mention picks from Naselle included senior Cheryl Steppe, senior Kellyn Pakenen, junior Brandi Keightley and junior Ashley Ahlstrom.

Comets' Burkhalter named all-Pacific 2B first-teamer

Courtesy of The Daily News
Feb 19, 2007
Naselle junior guard Kyle Burkhalter earned a spot on the Pacific 2B League first team for boys basketball following a recent vote of the league's coaches.Rounding out the first-team selections are Matt Myers, Ryan Fox and Cameron Hamilton from Northwest Christian; Rick Bannish and Mike Anderson of Willapa Valley; South Bend's Randy Eang; Ryan Cariker of North Beach; and Ocosta's Jack Stein. Willapa Valley senior Brady Langer was named the league's Most Valuable Player, and Willapa Valley's John Peterson was named Coach of the Year. Naselle received the league's Sportsmanship Award.Honorable mention picks included Naselle freshman Austin Burkhalter.

Cold start derails Comets at district

Courtesy of The Daily News
Feb 19, 2007
MONTESANO ---- A first-quarter breakdown doomed Naselle to a season-ending 56-50 loss to Northwest Christian here Monday in the Southwest 2B District boys basketball tournament, although Kyle Burkhalter ended his Comets career in style.Naselle out-rebounded NWC 31-20, and Burkhalter turned in 22 points and 11 boards. But the Comets made just three of their first 17 shots and trailed 17-6 after a quarter. Naselle finished 19-for-53 from the field and 8-for-11 from the line."We just shot very poorly the first quarter," Naselle coach Brian Macy said. "We dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of."Conor Smith had eight points and eight rebounds, and Austin Burkhalter added 11 points for Naselle.


NASELLE (50) -- Nathan Sultemeier 5, Kyle Burkhalter 22, Austin Burkhalter 13, Conor Smith 8, Gabe See 2, Casey Heagy 0, Nick Hines 0, Spencer Griss 0.

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN (56) -- Fox 12, Hamilton 6, Cummings 3, Dunn 4, Hobbs 2, Myers 27, Groeshell 2.

Naselle 6 14 14 14 -- 50
NW Christian 17 8 16 15 -- 56

Comets finish fifth in league, face Tigers Wednesday

Courtesy of The Chinook Observer
By PHIL RAISTAKKAObserver corespondentLACEY - The Naselle Comets boys fell to fifth place in the Pacific League end of season placement after a by a loss against the league's second place team, the Northwest Christian Navigators, in Lacey Thursday, Feb. 8. The Comets "took one on the chin" from the Navigators, losing 67-40 to knock the Comets into fifth place in the Pacific League. Naselle's record dropped to 6-8 in league, and 8-12 overall. Northwest Christian is 16-3 overall, and 12-2 for second place in leagueThe first time that the Comets played NWC this season in Naselle, the Comets squeezed out a 58-53 win over the Navigators. That was only one of two league games that the Navigators lost. This time around, it was no contest after the first quarter. The Comets continued to play "bakery ball" with 26 turnovers hurting their chances to give the Navigators a run for the money as the Navigators were able to pour it on for the final 27-point margin.The Comets were able to stay with the Navigators through the first eight minutes as the teams battled to an 11-11 tie. However, the Navigators superior shooting, aided by Naselle turnovers, gave them three double-digit scorers for the game - Ryan Fox with 22, Matt Myers 15, and Kyle Cummings 10, and a fourth player Cameron Hamilton with eight points - as the Navigators more than doubled the second quarter score, 22-8, on the Comets. The Navigators led 33-19 at the half.It got worse in the third period. The Comets only had one double-digit scorer in the game, Austin Burkhalter with 14, while the Navigators big guns kept hitting bulls-eyes. The Navigators tacked on a 23-11 third period and then coasted home with an 11-10 fourth quarter for their huge 27 point win."This was probably - right next to the last Valley game - our poorest performance of the year," said Coach Brian Macy. "We have had several kids battling the flu bug this past week, Kyle (Burkhalter), Nathan (Sultemeier), Casey (Heagy) and Gabe (See). This is the first game this season that Kyle hasn't got double figures."The few assists, losing the rebound battle (25-30) and allowing three Navigators to score in double figures with a fourth just out of doubles, were indicators of how this game went for NHS.The Comets will open the District Tournament with a trip to the Central League's fourth place team, Napavine, Wednesday, Feb. 14. Napavine and White Pass tied for fourth place in the Central League and Napavine got the fourth place position on a coin flip. If Naselle wins their first tournament game. they will play Pacific 1 Willapa Valley at 6:30 p.m. in Montesano on Sat, Feb. 17. If they lose their first tournament game, they will play again on Monday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. in Montesano, against a team yet to be determined. Napavine has a 9-7 Central League record and is 12-8 overall.

Naselle 11 8 11 10 - 40
NWC 11 22 23 11 - 67

NASELLE (40) - Austin Burkhalter 14, K. Burkhalter 6, Smith 5, See 4, Heagy 3, Hines 3, Griss 2, Ray 2, Erickson 2, Sultemeier;

FG - 18 of 42 for 43 percent,
(3's) 1-3,
FT - 1 of 6:
Rebounds (25): Smith 5;
Turnovers (26)

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN (67) - Ryan Fox 22, Matt Myers 15, Kyle Cummings 10, Cameron Hamilton 8, Chase 4, Hobbes 4, Owens 2, Goff 3, Groeschell;

FG - 27 of 51 for 53 percent,
FT - 6-17:
Rebounds (30)

JV: NWC won