1B boys basketball: Comets stunned 54-51 in state play, cap remarkable season

Published 12:03 pm Monday, March 4, 2024

Naselle junior Jack Strange (4) drives for a layup against CAA.

SPOKANE — For 16 minutes Naselle controlled Columbia Adventist Academy, but a cold third quarter doomed the Comets last week in their effort to advance from the final eight teams in the state, falling to the Kodiaks 54-51 to end their remarkable season.

Naselle went 19-5 overall on the season, capturing the 1B Columbia Valley League title while finishing second in the district. The Comets will lose two seniors to graduation, including Jacob Pakenen (12) and Jayden Ding (54).

Kodiaks come back to stun Comets

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The Comets raced to a 16-7 lead after the first period, a lead that grew to 32-21 at the half. Naselle, who had defeated CAA twice in regular-season play, looked poised to hand the Kodiaks their third loss. CAA had other plans, however, led by star guard Collin Delaney (1), who kick-started the Kodiaks in the second half while helping hold the Comets in check offensively.

The Kodiaks chipped 10 points off the Comet lead in the third period, trimming the Naselle lead to just one point (39-38) at the start of the final period.

CAA took their first lead of the game two minutes into the final period, which the Comets were able to recapture with a Pakenen put-back moments later. Pakenen would finish with a team-high 16 points before fouling out with just seconds left in the game. Delaney promptly sunk both free throws to give CAA a 54-51 advantage in the final seconds, a lead that they would hold on to for the win.

CAA was eliminated in the following round after losing 70-50 to Wellpinit, who ultimately beat Mossyrock in the state championship 60-56.

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