Naselle and Wahkiakum hooping into the holidays

Both Naselle and Wahkiakum have a break from the basketball court for the holidays. With the dust settling on the first part of the season, there's plenty to celebrate for both schools.

Naselle

Naselle's girls basketball team is off to a high-flying start, as they entered the two-week furlough on a four-game winning streak. Two of those wins have come in league play, and the Comets' 5-1 record is a statement end to 2025.

The two most recent victories came against North Beach and Willapa Valley. The game against North Beach on Thursday, Dec. 18 was the most dominant display of the season, as the Comets trounced the Hyaks 78-32. Head Coach Marie Green said it was a "great game" from her team and a well-rounded effort.

"We moved the ball well on offense and played really good defense,” said Green. “We were able to work on our man defense all game. The team combined for 31 steals tonight. It was great to see the girls making the extra pass to incorporate a better shot than a rushed shot. We still have some things to work on, but we are coming out and executing well."

Aubrey Katyryniuk put together an eye-popping stat line to help the Comets grab the win, making an impact on both sides of the court. She finished with 24 points, eight steals, six assists, and four rebounds. "Aubrey had a great game," Green said. "She was on fire with her shooting after a slow first quarter, but stepped it up with her defense and looking for her teammates."

In addition to Katyryniuk's heroics, Green also mentioned the gritty and impressive play of Brooklyn Avalon and Brooke Davis. Avalon poured in 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. On top of that, Avalon proved to be a pest throughout the game, notching seven steals and almost lodging an improbable triple-double. Not to be outdone, Davis led the team in rebounding and also notched a double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with 17 points, three steals, and a block.

While there were some eye-catching individual performances, Green emphasized the all-around team effort.

"All nine girls played great tonight," Green said. "We have a special team and are working hard playing together!" Buoyed by the big win against North Beach, the Comets continued their streak against Willapa Valley. Facing off against the Vikings on Friday, Dec. 19, Naselle stayed hot. Though it was back-and-forth in the first quarter, the Comets wrestled control of the game in the second quarter. With the score standing at 19-16 in favor of Naselle with 3:24 before halftime, the Comets erupted. In the closing minutes of the half, Naselle went on a 13-5 run and never looked back. In the second half, Naselle turned up the pressure and ended up entering the holiday break with a 67-45 win over a league opponent. A perfect way to end the year.

For the Naselle boys, December proved to be a challenging month. The Comets went 0-3 in their games, losing to Knappa, Taholah, and Willapa Valley. The loss to Willapa Valley on Friday, Dec. 19, was a heartbreaker, and the Comets ended up losing by just one basket (51-49). While their first win has proved elusive, the Comets are getting closer to earning it.

Wahkiakum

For the Mules, the wins keep coming. After the loss to Sunnyside on Saturday, Dec. 13, and the hard-fought one-point win against Willapa Valley on Monday, Dec. 15, the Mules grabbed two more wins to enter the Christmas break with a 6-1 record.

On Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Mules battled it out with Oakville in a league matchup. The Acorns couldn't hang with Wahkiakum, and the Mules took care of business 69-44. Off the back of that game, Wahkiakum kept the winning streak rolling against the Washington School for the Deaf on Thursday, Dec. 18. In a game that pitted Terriers and Mules against each other, it was the latter who came out kicking, winning 62-42 on the road. The 20-point win earned the Mules a 3-0 record in the league so far.

The game marked the fifth time that the Mules eclipsed 60 points scored. Wahkiakum is 4-1 when reaching that mark. With a deadly combo of steady offense and stifling defense, the Mules are proving to be a force in the early stages of the season. Wahkiakum will be back in action when they play the Columbia Adventist Academy Kodiaks on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

For the girls, the season has also been off to a hot start. Mirroring the record of the boys squad, the Mules have also started 6-1 and 3-0 in league play. The most recent varsity wins were league W’s against Oakville on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and the Washington School for the Deaf on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The game against the Acorns was tight, and the Mules were able to hold on for a five-point victory (43-38). The final game on the docket before getting a respite from the packed basketball schedule was a big win over the Terriers, which the Mules defeated 37-8. It was the second time this season that Wahkiakum has held an opponent to single figures in scoring; the other being against Three Rivers Christian on Thursday, Dec. 11.

The Mules will go into the new year flying, having won four varsity games in a row. The next game Wahkiakum will play will be against Columbia Adventist Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 6.