KM Trophy stays in Wahkiakum County after battle with Naselle

The KM Trophy was back up for grabs for the Comets and Mules on Tuesday, Jan. 13 and Wednesday, Jan. 14. Afterwards, both schools will have something to celebrate. Wahkiakum's boys varsity team managed a 29-point victory against the Comets, while Naselle's girls won their rivalry matchup by 21.

Rivalry games always have some nerves, and this season's KM Trophy games were no different. Both games were tight in the first quarter, as both squads needed to feel each other out.

Comets come out on top

The Wednesday, Jan. 14, varsity girls matchup between the Comets and Mules started with all the intensity you would expect of the occasion. With both teams revved up, finding the first points proved challenging. The first four minutes didn't see either team score, as both tried to wrestle control from the jump.

Naselle ended up making the first decisive run, turning pressure defense into quality looks. "Once we started, we didn't stop," said Comets Head Coach Marie Green.

Naselle ended the quarter up 12-1, powered by fantastic pressing from Mylee Dunagan, Brooklyn Avalon, and Brooke Davis. Avalon also started pouring in baskets in the second quarter, extending the lead, but she sustained an unfortunate injury during the period.

"Brooklyn started to explode in the second quarter, which helped to solidify our lead," said Green. "Unfortunately, she went down with an ankle injury with about two minutes left in the quarter."

The Comets carried a 19-point lead into the break. In the final two quarters, the teams played even, with each scoring 20. Naselle had a balanced night, scoring wise. Avalon and Aubrey Katyryniuk led the team with 14 points, but five other Comets chipped in baskets to secure victory. On the Mules' side, Amy Horman had a great night, scoring 18 points and leading all players.

As much as the balanced scoring helped Naselle, Green was also pleased with the effort and tenacity her team displayed in the rebounding battle.

"All my post players put up big numbers of rebounds, really getting in and finding the ball," she said. "Limiting Wahkiakum to extra attempts on the basket helped."

Haylee Rose, Davis, Dunagan, and Katyryniuk ran riot on the glass, securing 41 rebounds between the four of them, as well as piling up steals. The quadruple-headed dragon caused the Mules all sorts of problems, combining for 16 steals, seven of which coming from Dunagan.

After building the lead in the first half, Naselle saw the game out in the second half, maintaining the lead to claim the KM Trophy.

"The girls all really stepped up and played super well in the second half of the game," said Green. "I am super proud of the girls and how everyone did tonight."

The loss dropped Wahkiakum to 7-4 on the season, with the loss against Naselle being their third in a row after losing to Pe Ell and Morton/White Pass. The Mules will be back in action on Thursday, Jan. 22, against Oakville.

Meanwhile, the Comets played Mary M. Knight on Friday, Jan. 16 and Evergreen Lutheran on Saturday, Jan. 17, splitting the games with a win and a loss.

"Starting last week, my girls played eight games in 12 days and five of them on the road," said Green. "We ended those games 6-2 and 4-1 on the road. That is nothing to complain about. The girls are sitting 11-4 now and 6-0 in league. Next week, we have two battles coming to us. We will host Taholah on Tuesday and then Pe Ell on Wednesday."

The results of the games against Taholah and Pe Ell were not available at the time of press.

Wahkiakum's KM win

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, it was Wahkiakum who came out with the win when the varsity boys squared off. Their game taking place at Naselle High School, the Mules and Comets played an even first quarter. Despite a red-hot start from Wahkiakum's Parker Leitz, it was 17-17 at the end of the first stanza. Leitz scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter, including three three-pointers to start the game. He would end the night with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Trajen Ford led Naselle on the score sheet with 14 points, splashing down two three-pointers during the game.

For the Comets, five players registered baskets in the opening quarter. Naselle was led by Luke Dalton, who netted two three-pointers in the first. After trading baskets in the first, Wahkiakum put up some distance on the scoreboard before halftime. Playing stifling defense on Naselle, the Mules held the Comets to just six points in the second quarter. On the offensive end, Wahkiakum poured on the pressure, scoring 18 points, half of which were netted on three-pointers from Cooper Carlson. Stuffing the stat sheet for the Mules, Carlson ended the game with 20 points, seven assists, and four rebounds.

The Mules entered halftime with a 35-23 advantage and, in the final two quarters, they continued to stretch the lead. This time, it was Jayden Stoddard, Emory Filkowski, and Gage Robinson doing the damage. The three combined for all of Wahkiakum's 13 points in the quarter, and Stoddard and Filkowski would end the night with 12 and nine points respectively.

The final quarter ended up being the cherry on top for Wahkiakum, as they got their hands on the KM Trophy in emphatic fashion, outscoring Naselle 24-12. Wahkiakum closed out the game and travelled back to Cathlamet with the momentum of a hard-fought win.

After the win against Naselle, Wahkiakum beat Raymond/South Bend in their next game, blowing them out 80-49 to secure their fourth consecutive win. The Mules played Three Rivers Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 20, but the result of the game was unknown at the time of press.

Naselle went on to win their next three games after the loss to the Mules, beating Cornerstone Christian Academy 87-24 on Thursday, Jan. 15, taking care of Mary M. Knight 65-60 on Friday, Jan. 16. In their Saturday, Jan. 17, game against Evergreen Lutheran, the Comets fell just short, losing 73-80. The result of Naselle's Tuesday, Jan. 20, game against Taholah was unknown at the time of press.