Naselle freshman Aubrey Katyryniuk (23) dribbles past a Oakville defender during the Comets 61-34 over the Acorns on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Katyryniuk scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Comets.

Ilwaco boys basketball

The Ilwaco boys basketball team (17-5) opened district play with a 70-48 loss to Adna (16-6) on Wednesday, Feb. 7, before responding with a 74-56 victory over Rainier (13-9) in a loser-out matchup on Friday, Feb. 9.

In the first game against Adna, the Fishermen struggled to find their rhythm as the hot-shooting Pirates raced to a 43-23 halftime lead.

In the second game against Rainier, Ilwaco looked more characteristic of the team that won the league championship buoyed by a balanced effort from a group of seniors.

In the first period, Ilwaco senior Beckett Turner took control by scoring 8 of the Fishermen’s first 11 points, giving Ilwaco an 11-7 lead midway through the period. Then Ilwaco senior guard Kyle Morris took his turn, scoring 11 straight points, including a deep three-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Fishermen a 26-14 first period lead.

Ilwaco continued their offensive onslaught in the second period at a rapid pace that Rainier attempted to match but couldn’t due to Boston Caron and Dylan Pelas, who combined for 12 points in the period giving Ilwaco a 45-26 lead at the half that they would not relinquish.

Up next: Ilwaco will next face Wahkiakum (16-5) in a loser-out game at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Castle Rock High School.

Ilwaco girls basketball

The Ilwaco girls basketball team (14-7) lost to Napavine (19-1) 65-27 in the second round of the double-elimination WIAA 2B District 4 Tournament at W.F. West High School on Tuesday, Feb. 6, then rebounded by beating Morton/White Pass 51-48 on Thursday, Feb. 8, in the loser bracket.

In the first game against Napavine, Ilwaco fell into a 39-17 hole in the second period and were never able to recover against the Tigers, who finished second in the 2B Central League.

The loss sent the Lady Fishermen to the loser’s bracket, where they faced Morton/White Pass, who lost to Rainier 66-33 in the opening round.

In the second game against Morton/White Pass, the Lady Fishermen were led by stellar performances from freshmen Brooklyn Avalon (11) and Mikayala Warfield (32), who each finished with 21 points, leading the Lady Fishermen to a 51-48 victory and keeping the season alive.

Up next: Ilwaco faced Forks (11-3) in a loser-out game at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Castle Rock High School.

Naselle girls basketball

The Naselle girls basketball team (8-13) split their two district games last week, including a 61-34 second-round victory over Oakville (8-12) on Wednesday Feb. 7 before the Comets fell to Pe Ell 55-28 in the third round of the WIAA 1B District 4 Tournament Friday, Feb. 9, in Pe Ell.

Naselle freshman guard Aubrey Katyryniuk scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Comets over Oakville.

“Tonight was spectacular!” said head coach Marie Green following the 61-34 win.

“I will say that this was probably one of the best games and complete games that the girls played all year as a team! They moved the ball well and shot well. Aubrey went 6-of-8 from behind the line in the first half of the game. We came out and just played the way I knew they could.”

Up next: Naselle will next face Willapa Valley (15-12) on Thursday, Feb. 15 at Hoquiam High School.

Naselle boys basketball

The Naselle boys basketball team (18-2) wrapped up the regular season with a league championship the first week of February and have since enjoyed a long rest before they suit up in the district semifinals.

Up next: Naselle (18-2) took on Willapa Valley (13-11) in the semifinal round of the district tournament at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Naselle.

Willapa Valley girls basketball

After beginning district play by blasting Lake Quinault (0-12) 59-19 in the first round of the WIAA 1B District 4 Tournament, the Willapa Valley girls basketball team (15-12) won their second- and third-round games last week by nearly identical scores, including beating Columbia Adventist Academy (6-13) 53-31 and Mary M. Knight (6-8) 54-32, before falling to Mossyrock 35-28 on Monday, Feb. 12, at Mossyrock High School.

Up next: Willapa Valley will next play Naselle in a loser-out game on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Hoquiam High School.

Willapa Valley boys basketball

The Willapa Valley boys basketball team (13-11) have won their first three opening-round games in the WIAA 1B District 4 Tournament, including two wins last week over Pe Ell (7-15) 53-28 and Taholah (8-23) 58-24.

Up next: Willapa Valley traveled to take on Naselle in the semifinal round of the district tournament at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Naselle.

Raymond/South Bend girls basketball

The Raymond/South Bend girls basketball team (13-7) split their district tournament games last week, including a 70-48 opening-round loss to Rainier followed by a 68-36 victory over Onalaska in a loser-out matchup on Feb. 8, at Castle Rock High School.

Up next: Raymond/South Bend faced Toledo (8-7) in a loser-out matchup at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Castle Rock High School.

Raymond boys basketball

The Raymond boys basketball team (11-11) concluded their season after falling to Chief Leschi 71-36 in a loser-out game in the second round of the WIAA 2B District 4 Tournament on Feb. 9, at Rochester High School.

The Seagulls, who finished fourth in the 2B Pacific League, will lose six seniors to graduation, including Ashton Kongbouakhay, Elijah Rumbles, Austin Snodgrass, Austin Caricchio, Talan Yearout and Taren Stephens.