NASELLE – The Naselle Comets boys basketball team ended their pre-Christmas schedule on a high note with a come-from-behind one point win over the South Bend Indians in a non-league game played in the Naselle gym Monday, Dec. 20. The Comets edged the Indians 47-46 on Randy Johnson’s two free throws in the last eight seconds, to give the Comets the non-league win against a Pacific League foe. The Comets overall season record climbed to 3-4 for the season.

NHS was forced to play catch-up through the middle two quarters of the game and still trailed by four points in the fourth period before they began their comeback, led by Evan Hendrickson’s 12 points in the quarter. The Comets grabbed the lead, only to lose it again, before Johnson’s two clutch free throws in the final 8 seconds gave them the lead. NHS was then able to hold on for the win when the Indians missed a 3-point shot.

Naselle coach Brian Macy said, “We took a lead at 43-40 and then ended up falling behind 45-46 with about 40 seconds remaining. We made the decision to run our offense until there was about 15 seconds remaining; at that point we were going to run a set play and take it to the hoop – hoping they would either foul us, or not defend as aggressively, since they were up only by one point. We did run our offense until about 15 seconds and didn’t get a good look, we had problems, however, getting the set play to work.

“Ricky (Johnson) ended up with the ball in the corner and decided to take the shot with about eight seconds left – he was fouled and went to the line. He made the first two and missed the third. They rebounded the ball got it to (Jon) Allison, who threw up a desperation shot at the buzzer. He missed and the ball game was over. Too bad it wasn’t the league win!”

The Comets led the Indians 8-5 after one period, only to see the Indians take the half-time lead at 21-19 with a 16-11 second period. South Bend extended their lead slightly with a 14-12 third period, setting up the fourth quarter theatrics.

Naselle’s Aoy Marion, with 20 points and Evan Hendrickson with 15, more than matched the Indians top scorers of Jon Allison with 19 and Ramira Garcia with 10 points. The Comets got just enough shooting mileage out of four of their other players to counter the Indians with only two other scorers. The Naselle rebounders were led by Kyle Burkhalter with seven and Hendrickson with six boards.

Macy said, “A key to the very close game was that we only had 13 turnovers. That’s not great, but its better than we have been doing. We definitely won the game on the defensive end of the court. They had to work for most of their points and we usually held them to only one attempt.

“Offensively we still aren’t executing well, but did a better job of executing in the fourth quarter. Evan got some open looks – hitting two “threes” and making six free throws in the fourth quarter. This was a great win for us and a much needed win,” Macy concluded.

The Comets played Monday and Tuesday nights in their own K-M Christmas Tournament in games played too late to be reported in this edition of the Observer. Cathlamet opened the tournament against Clallam Bay and Naselle played Tacoma Baptist in their first game on Monday. Losers played losers and winners played winners on Tuesday night.

The Comets also play on Saturday, Jan. 8, when the Naselle boys and girls teams both play Cathlamet teams on a night when the Naselle gym will officially be named the Lyle Patterson Gymnasium. The girls’ game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip-off and the boys’ game is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m., following the dedication ceremony.

SOUTH BEND (46) – Jon Allison 19, Ramiro Garcia 10, Rogers 9, Martinson 8, Eang, Pine, Williams, Yi

NASELLE (47) – Aoy Marion 20, Evan Hendrickson 15, Burkhalter 4, Johnson 4, Gradt 2, Mendoza 2, Queener, Torppa; Rebounds: Burkhalter 7, Hendrickson 6

Field Goals – NHS, 15 of 39 for 38.4 per cent, including 5 of 14 for 35.7 per cent from the three point line

Free Throws – 12 of 19 for 63 percent