MATLOCK – Don’t look now, but a Naselle basketball team has just won three league games in a row.

The sophomore dominated Naselle Comets boys basketball team had done just that, as they won their third Pacific League game in succession with a 68-43 pasting of the Mary M. Knight Owls on their home court in Matlock, Friday, Dec. 19.

The win boosted the Comets’ Pacific League record to 3-2 and 3-4 overall.

“We got some W’s, that’s what we got,” said an elated Naselle coach Ryan Bjornsgard. “These were two rough back-to-back long road trip games and getting two league wins was a big plus. Our second half transition game and shooting made a big difference.”

Sophomores led the Comets, with Evan Hendrickson breaking out of a shooting slump as he scored 20 points and pulled down 7 rebounds. He also added 9 steals for a near double-double. Aoy Marion added 18 points, 8 steals, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Bjornsgard said, “We executed well on offense and our second half defensive pressure was huge. That defense led to lots of transition baskets and we shot 62 percent in the second half.”

The Comets had their best shooting game of the year, hitting 52 percent of their shots for the game and 14 of 18 free throws.

NHS had a 30-21 half-time lead when they put together a 23-10 third period for a 53-31 third quarter lead. They then “held their serve” with a 15-12 fourth period on their way to a 68-43 win.

The big win must have made the long bus ride home feel a little shorter for coaches Bjornsgard and Paul Jarrett and the NHS team. They are now on their Christmas break until they return to action in the K-M Christmas Tournament in Cathlamet on Dec 29 and 30. The Comets play the Clallam Bay Bruins in their opening tournament game on Monday, Dec. 29.

“We are starting to gel as a team,” said Bjornsgard. “We hope to have all of our players back as we go through the Christmas break. We will need everyone because Clallam Bay has all but two of their state-placing team back this year.”

Naselle 16 14 23 15 – 68

M.M. Knight 12 9 10 12 – 43

Naselle (68) Evan Hendrickson 20, Marion 18, Queener 7, White 6, Williams 6, Johnson 4, R. Torppa 3, Mendoza 2, P. Perez 2; Shooting: FG – 26 of 50 (52 percent), 3’s – 2 of 10, FT – 14 of 18; Rebounds: Mendoza 9, Hendrickson 7, Johnson 6, Marion 5; Assists: Marion 4; Steals: Hendrickson 9. Marion 8: Drew offensive charges: Johnson 3

Knight (43) – Chad Albaugh 9, Brehmeyer 8, Spaulding 8, Shumate 4, Skelton 4, Beardan 2, Finch 2, McCoy 2, D, Prouty 2, J. Prouty 2; Shooting: FG – 20 of 60 (33 percent), 3’s – 1 of 9, FT – 2 of 5