Comets boys go cold in loss to NWCLACEY – A cold third quarter spelled disaster for the under-manned Naselle Comets boys as they dropped a 47-31 Pacific League game to the Northwest Christian Navigators in Lacey Friday, Jan. 14.

The loss dropped the Comets’ league record to 2-2 and 3-10 overall.

NHS didn’t scorch the hoop at any time, with only 30 percent field goal shooting and a 33 percent free throw average, but the third period was particularly harmful when they only scored three points. Until then, the Comets had been able to hang around, only trailing by five points at the half.

Naselle coach Brian Macy said, “We couldn’t get anything to drop in the third quarter and that was a killer. We had several opportunities but we couldn’t take advantage. The story on this game was our inability to get the ball in the basket. We were patient and got good looks but didn’t get them to drop. We were 12-40 from the field and five for 15 from the free throw line. Neither Aoy (Marion) or Greg Queener played in this one. Greg bruised his sternum in the North Beach game and Aoy was sitting as a consequence for his quitting. Both should be available to play on Thursday versus Wishkah.”

NHS had no one in double figures. Evan Hendrickson led the Naselle scorers with eight points, followed closely by Jason Gradt with seven and Ricky Johnson with six points. The Navigators, on the other end, had two players in double figures and balanced scoring from four other players.

The Comets entertain the Wishkah Valley Loggers in a Pacific League game tomorrow night, Thursday, in Lyle Patterson gym. The high-flying Willapa Valley Vikings, with their gaudy undefeated record, come to town this Saturday, Jan. 22, for a league game.

NASELLE – Evan Hendrickson 8, Gradt 7, Johnson 6, Williams 4, Burkhalter 2, Mendoza 2, Torppa 2; Shooting: Field goals – 12 of 40 for 30 percent, Free throws – 5 of 15 for 33 percent.

NWC – Ben Lamb 13, Shawn Post 10, Pratt 8, Meyers 7, Wagner 6, Barr 3.

Comets boys lose to North BeachOYEHUT – Staying with the North Beach Hyaks for a quarter, the Naselle Comets then turned the ball over too many times and the Hyaks rolled over the Comets 77-33 in a Pacific League boys basketball game played in the North Beach gym Tuesday, Jan. 11.

The league loss was the Comets first and dropped their league record to 2-1, 3-9 overall.

Naselle coach Brian Macy said, “North Beach is a very athletic basketball team. The score was 11-13 with about two minutes to go in the first quarter. We turned the ball over twice and didn’t execute an offense in the final possessions of the first period. This pattern continued until it was 11-28, midway through the second quarter.

“North Beach put a tremendous amount of pressure on the ball and got in the passing lanes, which makes it difficult if you don’t set good screens and work as a team. They also had several offensive rebounds as we didn’t block out well.”

The Hyaks were at full force and their top guns were their usual twosome of Devin Timpson and Kavin Williams, each with 20 points. One of the super-sized Sturgeons – Dusty – also joined in with double figure scoring with 13 points, while brother Davin muscled in nine points.

The shorthanded Comets had no one in double figures. Evan Hendrickson was close with eight points while Eli Williams, with seven points, and Greg Queener with six joined in the scoring. Aoy Marion did not play in the game due to personal reasons and he also missed the next game against Northwest Christian. Robert Torppa also didn’t play due to disciplinary reasons.

After staying within two points of the Hyaks with two minutes left in the first quarter, NHS then trailed by six points at the quarter break. The second quarter proved to be the Comets undoing as they were outscored 21-5 and went in at the half trailing 38-16.

The second half was nearly a duplicate of the first half in scoring with the Hyaks coming out on top 39-17, sending the Comets home with their largest loss of the season.

NASELLE – Evan Hendrickson 8, Williams 7, Queener 6, Burkhalter 4, Johnson 4, Gradt 3, Perez 1, Griss 0, Mendoza; Shooting: Field goals – 14 for 45 = 31%, includes 3 of 14 from 3 point line; Free Throws 2 for 5 – 40%; Turnovers (22).

North Beach – Devin Timpson 20, Kavin Williams 20, Dusty Sturgeon 14, Devin Sturgeon 9, E. Fry 6, Case 4, J. Fry 2, Tolon 2, Potter 0.