The Naselle girls enjoyed the best start to the season of the south Pacific County basketball squads.

The Comets defeated visiting Tenino 57-37, sparked by 25 points from Aubrey Katyryniuk, who also tallied six steals, four assists and two rebounds.

“The girls came out on fire tonight,” said head coach Marie Green. “Our press early on was spot on. We went on an early 10-0 run and never fully looked back.

“The team came out without missing a beat, and we just sort of picked up where we left off,” she said, praising sophomore newcomer Alicia Knight, who led with 10 rebounds. “Alicia was a big help on defense tonight and cleaning up the boards.”

She also commended Brooke Davis and Mylee Dunagan for their defensive work. “Brooke got into early foul trouble in the first half, and subsequently early in the third quarter, making her miss about half of the game. While she was in, she had a punch that really helped the team find their footing.”

Davis and Brianna Johnson scored 10 points each; Dunagan had nine rebounds and Haylee Rose collected seven.

The NHS girls next host the combined Raymond-South Bend squad Dec. 12, followed by a home doubleheader Dec. 13 against Taholah, with the girls playing at 6 p.m. and the Comet boys under head coach Bill Olsen beginning their season afterward.

Looking ahead

Ilwaco’s girls began the season with a 42-39 home loss against Mossyrock, which moved up a division to 2B this year. Next for the Lady Fishermen after Monday’s planned trip to Naselle is a Dec. 11 game at Wahkiakum.

As he began his 21st season as head coach in Ilwaco, Ned Bittner was charting a course with a new-look squad. He is joined for the ninth season by assistant coach Justin Russell, as well as 2020 IHS graduate Estella Sheldon.

Following graduations, junior Sophia Bittner, the only returning starter, is shifting to point guard. “Ana Petry [a sophomore], who was the first off the bench last year, will provide solid play and leadership to help the team,” Bittner said.

He added that freshmen Taylor Morrison, Gracie WIrkkala, Madison Smolorek and Harmoni Benjamin “will get a great chance to provide solid minutes for the team.”

The squad includes junior Nora Soule, a track and cross country stalwart who hasn’t played basketball for a few years, sophomore Joy Bickle, also getting back onto the court after a while, plus Daysia Benjamin and Cierra Reddy.

Ilwaco is in a competitive region: The Napavine Tigers are the reigning state champions, Adna placed fifth and Rainier and Toutle Lake made the final eight at Spokane.

Forks ended Ilwaco’s 2023-24 season and advanced to the final 16. Bittner sees the Spartans and Raymond-South Bend returning solid cores, battling for the top two spots. “I see us right in the middle of the league as Chief Leschi and North Beach will be right there too,” he predicted.

The season didn’t start well for the Ilwaco boys, either. They fell 51-43 to Wahkiakum. Next, IHS hosts Ocosta Dec. 11 and then the Dec. 14 “braggin’ rights” home game against Naselle.

Strange honored

Naselle’s football season ended at the semifinals of the state 1B championship, but there was cause for celebration as December began. Senior running back Jack Strange was named as a WIAA “Athlete of the Week.” He was one of 12 student-athletes in all of Washington’s fall sports and school classifications to be honored.

As well as noting the most valuable player accolade in the 1B South Division’s annual all-league listings, the coaches nominated Strange for his performance in the 60-50 state quarterfinal win against Pomeroy when he had 24 carries for 300 yards and four rushing scores, alongside three catches for 96 yards and two more scores.