WISHKAH – Playing with all of their players for the first time in several games, the Naselle Comettes used a total team effort to run over the Wishkah Valley Loggerettes 75-51 Tuesday, Jan. 28. The Pacific League win keeps NHS with a perfect league record at 12-0, and an overall record of 16-0.

The Comettes had been playing without the full availability of Fritha Davern and Tiffany Pauly due to leg and foot problems. With their presence in the lineup, NHS blazed to one of its highest scoring games of the season.

They shot 56 percent from the floor as their offensive control and defensive pressure gave the Comettes lots of shots in the paint. Naselle assistant coach Tim Wirkkala said, “Offensively, this was one of our better games. With Fritha and Paula both back, we controlled the inside. Also, our press got us lots of fast break opportunities.”

Naselle controlled the boards with a 37-24 rebounding advantage with 18 of the retrievals coming on the offensive glass. Pauly with 11 and Davern with nine led the NHS board patrol. NHS also had 20 assists, spread out among several of the players, as the Comettes moved the ball around well in the game.

Nora Darcher, with 26 points, led four Comettes in double digit scoring. Davern and Lucy Rubio each added 17 points, while Pauly added 10 points to her 11 rebounds for a double-double.

Even with their high scoring game working, NHS didn’t run away from the Loggers in the early going. Just as they did in the first game between these two teams played just ten days ago, the Loggers hung around. But not as closely as in that first game.

Naselle led 19-10 after one quarter and 37-24 at the intermission. A 14-12 third period gave NHS a 51-36 lead after three. NHS then closed it out with a 24-15 fourth period for their 75-51 win.

Coach Wirkkala said, “We were moving the ball around real well as our assists total demonstrates. It was probably the best that we have moved the ball all year. Our pressure defense also caused them all sorts of problems. Having everyone back was a real plus.”

The JV game was stopped in the third quarter when one of the parents of a Loggers player had a medical problem while sitting in the stands. He was taken to the hospital by members of the Naselle Ambulance service and he was later released from the hospital.

Naselle 19 18 14 24 – 75

Wishkah 10 14 12 15 – 51

Naselle (75) – Nora Darcher 26, Lucy Rubio 17, Fritha Davern 17, Tiffany Pauly 10, Smith 4, Herman 1, Klinger; FG – 33/59 = 56 percent, 3s -2/6, FT – 3/7; Rebounds (37): Pauly 11, Davern 9, Rubio 5; Assists (20): Rubio 5; Steals: Rubio 8

Wishkah (51) – Katherine Carlisle 17, Coady 12, Reed 10, Johnson 6, Juneau 4, Hamilton 2; Rebounds (24): Reed 10; FG – 14/37 = 38 percent, 3s – 4/8 FT – 11/13