Wahkiakum and Naselle hoops update

Week by week, the basketball season is coming to a head, and Naselle and Wahkiakum are still fighting to ensure they are in the mix for the playoffs when the final games are played.

It's been a jam-packed schedule in the new year, and Naselle and Wahkiakum are keeping busy, with both schools playing a couple of games in the past seven days. It's important to note that results from games played on Tuesday, Jan. 27, were unavailable at the time of press.

Wahkiakum

Wahkiakum's boys continued their perfect run in 2026 this past week. The Mules kept kicking after securing the KM Trophy against Naselle on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and won in emphatic fashion against Raymond/South Bend and Three Rivers Christian respectively on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 19 and 20.

Against Raymond/South Bend, Wahkiakum ran away with it on the road, winning 80-49. It was the team’s largest winning margin of the season; a record that wouldn't hold for long, though. The next game against Three Rivers Christian, Wahkiakum notched its highest-scoring performance of the season and its biggest win. The Mules beat the Eagles 84-44, notching their fifth consecutive win in style.

After the blowout win over Three Rivers Christian, Wahkiakum boasted a 12-3 record overall, and a perfect 6-0 mark in league play. In WIAA's RPI rankings, Wahkiakum is one of the top teams in the state, sitting at #4. The Mules were supposed to play one more game against Oakville on Thursday, Jan. 22, but, unfortunately, the game had to be postponed due to a power outage. The girls varsity team also had its game disrupted by the power outage in Oakville, but it was actually in progress. During halftime, the power shut off, forcing the game to be called off. According to the Oakville School District post, all student athletes and spectators were able to leave the building safely, and the two programs will now work to figure out a time to play the second half of the girls' game and the entire boys' matchup. Admission will not be charged for the rescheduled games.

After that postponement, the girls faced off with Mary M. Knight a few days later. The Mules dominated the Owls from the get-go. After winning the first quarter 15-7, Wahkiakum ramped up the pressure and put together one of their best defensive quarters of the season. They held the Owls scoreless in the period and extended their lead, going into halftime up 23-7. In the final two periods, the Mules maintained their edge, continuing to score quality looks and cruising to a 43-22 win.

The win over the Owls pushed Wahkiakum to 8-4 overall and 4-1 in the 1B Columbia Valley District. Both the boys and girls played against the Washington School for the Deaf on Tuesday, Jan. 27, but the results were unknown at press time.

Naselle

The girls varsity basketball team has been up and down since beating Wahkiakum on Wednesday, Jan. 14, going 2-2 in that stretch. The Comets followed their win against the Mules with a four-point victory against Mary M. Knight and an eight-point defeat against Evergreen Lutheran.

Quick to bounce back, Naselle grabbed a good win against Taholah despite a slow start.

"Really, both sides started slow in the first four minutes of the game,” said Head Coach Marie Green. “We had some great shot selections, the ball just wouldn't really fall.”

Naselle scored just six points in the quarter, all six coming by way of two Aubrey Katyryniuk three-balls. Katyryniuk ended the game leading all scorers with 18, including four three-pointers. After starting down 6-13, Naselle began to ratchet up the defensive pressure. Down 22-27 at halftime, the Comets came out white hot in the third quarter and took control of the contest.

"Brooke (Davis) and Brianna (Johnson) had some huge offensive boards tonight,” said Green. “That allowed us to really get some second and third looks on the basket. We were down five at the half and came out just clicking and hitting. Brianna had two big threes, along with Aubrey and Brooklyn (Avalon), each hitting one, too."

Johnson and Davis ended the game with nine and 13 rebounds respectively, shouldering a heavy burden on the glass for the Mules. Mylee Dunagan snagged nine boards to go with her nine points. After a shaky start, Naselle rode a hot third quarter to a 58-52 victory. The next night, Naselle faced off with Pe Ell. Playing at home, the Comets couldn't get an edge, and the game didn't go "as planned," according to Green. "The girls were taking great shots,” she said. “Some went in, and some did not. We had some slower transitions in our defense, and that allowed shots to be taken and made."

Down 21-30 at half, Naselle needed to make a push in the second half. Unfortunately, Brooke Davis got in foul trouble in the third quarter, taking her out for much of the remainder of the frame. Despite missing Davis, Naselle cut into the lead and, in the fourth, came within one point of tying the game up. Turnovers and miscommunications allowed the chance to slip through their fingers, and the Comets ended up losing 63-50.

"It was a great, hard-fought game,” said Green. “If things go how we would like them to in the next couple of weeks, we could have a rematch, but only time will tell on that. I am proud of my girls and how they have been playing." Naselle played Willapa Valley on Tuesday Jan. 27, but the result was unavailable at the time of press.

The boys have been busy since matching up with Wahkiakum on Tuesday, Jan. 13. In the five games since losing to the Mules, the Comets have gone 2-3, according to MaxPreps.com. The Comets' two wins came against Taholah and Pe Ell on Tuesday, Jan. 20 and Wednesday, Jan. 21. The back-to-back wins marked the second time this season Naselle has secured consecutive wins. The Comets couldn't keep the streak alive, however, and ended up losing their next two games against Neah Bay and Willapa Valley on Friday, Jan. 23, and Monday, Jan. 26. The Comets had a 7-11 record at the time of press, and a 4-4 record in the 1B Coastal District.