CATHLAMET — The Naselle boys basketball team lost to rival Wahkiakum 63-48 in the opening round of the District 4 1B tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, sending the Comets to a loser-out matchup against Oakville on Monday, Feb. 17.

If the Comets are to qualify the state tournament this season, they will have to win their next two games, starting with the Acorns, who lost to Willapa Valley 68-31 in the first round.

Wahkiakum 16-0 run

Naselle struggled to convert in the first period, with senior guard Jack Strange (4) accounting for seven of the Comets’s first nine points while Wahkiakum opened a 14-9 lead through the first four minutes. Naselle junior Leith Chadwick (23) and senior Jacob Lindstrom (5) sank shots down the stretch, including a layup at the buzzer, but the Mules ended the period with a six-point lead (20-14).

In the second period, the cold shooting continued for the Comets as the Mules ripped off a 16-0 run, forcing a Naselle timeout midway through the period trailing 36-14.

Naselle responded from the timeout with an 8-2 spurt — spurred by four points from Strange (4) — to close the half, trailing 38-22.

In the third period, both teams traded baskets for the first four minutes before back-to-back three pointers from Naselle junior Scott Henington (3) and senior Jacob Lindstrom (5) drew the Comets within single digits (49-40).

It would be as close as the Comets would come.

The Mules held the Comets to only eight points over the final 10 minutes, prevailing with a 63-48 win.

Up next: The Comets will next face Oakville on Feb. 17 in a loser-out matchup at 7:30 p.m. at Raymond High School.