Naselle head coach Bill Olsen draws up a play during a timeout in 2022.

NASELLE — Veteran coach Bill Olsen took the Comets to the 1B third-place trophy in his first year after moving west from Wahkiakum.

If You Go

If You Go

Naselle Boys Basketball

Dec. 13 Taholah (h) 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 Chief Leschi (a) 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 Willapa Valley (h) 7 p.m.

Dec. 21 Clallam Bay (h) 5 p.m.

Dec. 27-28 Ilwaco Holiday Tournament, TBA

2025

Jan. 3 PeEll (a) 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 6 Raymond 7 p.m.

Jan. 7 Lake Quinault (a) 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 Warrenton (a) 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 Ocosta (h) 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 Ilwaco (a) 7 p.m.

Jan. 13 Columbia Adventist Academy (h) 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 Wahkiakum (a) 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 Kelso (h) 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 Taholah (a) 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 25 Neah Bay (h) 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 Willapa Valley (a) 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 Lake Quinault (h) 7:30 p.m. senior night

Feb. 4 Ocosta (a) 7 p.m.

• All games are subject to change

Since then, he has taken Naselle to state again in two of the last three years. Naselle boys advanced further than all the other south Pacific County teams last season, making it to the final eight at state in Spokane and concluding with a 19-5 record.

Having narrowly beaten Columbia Adventist Academy twice during the regular season, the Comets lost to the Kodiaks in the Spokane Arena by a three-point margin. CAA then lost to eventual 1B champions Wellpinit.

There were some celebrations, though. Olsen was named 1B Columbia Valley coach of the year and players Jacob Lindstrom, Jack Strange, William Anderson and Jacob Pakanen were honored by the league; Pakanen was the only one to graduate last June.

The league will see some changes. Mossyrock, which placed second at state, has moved up to 2B. Instead, the Comets will play meaningful games with Wahkiakum and Ocosta, which have both dropped to 1B.

The season begins in the Naselle gym Dec. 13 against Taholah.