NASELLE – Four Comets were in double figures – two of which had double-doubles – as Naselle zipped to a 76-61 non-league win over Ilwaco at Lyle Patterson Gym Saturday. This comes just two weeks after defeating IHS by a similar 71-59 in Ilwaco.

A pair of three-pointers from Leonel Mendoza helped put the Comets up 10-2 three minutes into the fray and Manny Lopez’s 12 points in the first half were key in Naselle fashioning a 40-27 advantage at popcorn time.

Ilwaco would get no closer as Naselle won the war on the boards 41-31 and in the frenetically-paced, well-played contest they turned the ball over only nine times to the Fishermen’s dozen miscues. Both teams shot the lights out as Naselle was 29-62 for 47 percent from the floor, including seven “three’s” and Ilwaco was 23-56 for 50 percent accuracy. The Comets converted on 12-16 from the line for 75 percent and Ilwaco was 13-18 for 72 percent. Naselle was whistled for 19 fouls to 16 for the visitors.

The Comets’ Austin Burkhalter led all scorers with 20 points and added 11 rebounds. Lopez continued his streak of seven straight games with a double-double as he finished with 15 points and 10 boards. Lopez and Burkhalter both blocked four shots apiece. Mendoza added 18 points and a pair of blocked shots and Drew Macy had a season-high 14 points and seven assists. Burkhalter, Mendoza, and Alan Erickson also dished out four assists apiece for the Comets and Marcos Herrera finished with nine points.

Chris Schommer led the Fishermen with 16 tallies and six assists and Kyle Breckinridge contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Karl Oman, who scored 30 against Naselle in their first contest 15 days ago, was held to one field goal and eight points. Justin Short contributed eight points including a pair of treys, Cody Pierson six, Patrick Whealdon, five Bobby Byrd four and Pierson had seven rebounds.

Naselle coach Brian Macy said, “We played with intensity all 32 minutes tonight. I thought Drew and Leo did a good job of defending their guards and we had excellent help inside when they penetrated. We blocked out well on the boards, executed our half-court offense well, and our bench players contributed when we needed them.”

Ilwaco coach Kip Meinhardt stated, “Their post players out-rebounded us and they out-played us in every aspect of the game. It was obvious Naselle came out on a mission after their league loss two days before. Our guys played hard, but we need to get better on defense and we’ll have time to work on that over the holidays.”

Naselle is now 5-2 and Ilwaco 2-4 on the season. The two teams could meet again in the Ilwaco Holiday Tournament Dec. 29. Ross Kukula scored 25 points and Ryan Tapio nine to lead the Fishermen to a 53-43 win in the junior varsity tilt. Nick Zimmerman topped Naselle with eight and Alex Bighill and Rob Baker added seven points each.

Ilwaco-Patrick Whealdon 5, Justin Short 8, Cody Pierson 6, Chris Schommer 16, Kyle Breckinridge 14, Bobby Byrd 4, Ryan Kukula, Karl Oman 8

Naselle-John Hines, Drew Macy 14, Alan Erickson, Leo Mendoza 18, Austin Burkhalter 20, Rob Baker, Chase Chapman, Marcos Herrera 9, Manny Lopez 15