CATHLAMET — The Naselle girls basketball team fell to Wahkiakum 50-37 in the opening round of the District 4 1B tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, sending the Comets to a loser-out matchup against either Columbia Adventist Academy or Taholah on Feb. 18.

If the Comets are to qualify for the state tournament this season, they will have to win their next two games.

Cold quarter dooms Comets

A raucous Wahkiakum gymnasium filled with boisterous students greeted the visiting Comets, a growing rivalry among rural schools separated by 20 miles along State Route 4.

The game got off to a fast start, with Naselle junior forward Brooke Davis (2) accounting for four points during three lead changes in a back-and-forth opening period, ending with a one-point advantage (10-9) for Wahkiakum.

In the second period, Wahkiakum took a six-point lead before a three-pointer from Naselle sophomore guard Brianna Johnson (1) snapped the skid.

Wahkiakum answered with 12-5 run, capped by a three pointer from senior Bailey McKinley (2), sending the Mules into the half with a nine-point lead (25-16).

Wahkiakum opened the third period on a 5-0 run, forcing a Naeslle timeout.

The Comets came out of the timeout with buckets from junior Mylee Dunagan and junior Mallory Helvey (3), cutting the deficit to single-digits (30-21) midway through the period.

However, as they had done all night, Wahkiakum answered with a 15-5 run, closing the third with a 19-point lead (45-26).

Naselle made one final run in the fourth period, with baskets from sophomore Aubrey Katyryniuk (23), Helvey and Davis, cutting the lead to 10 (47-37) with two minutes to go. But time would ultimately run out on the Comets, falling 50-37.

Up next: The Comets will next play in a loser-out matchup against either Columbia Adventist Academy or Taholah on Feb. 18. at 7:30 p.m. at Raymond High School.