NASELLE BOYS CLINCH DISTRICT PLAYOFF BERTH
Kyle Burkhalter scored 16 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to lead the Naselle Comets to a 61-53 victory over the South Bend Indians at Patterson Gymnasium Thursday night.
With the win, the Comets are now tied with the Indians for fifth place in the Pacific 2B League standings at 5-7. Both teams have clinched district tournament berths.
Naselle grabbed an early 11-0 with Burkhalter scoring the first six points before the Indians fought back to take their only lead of the game in the second period. The Indians took advantage of the Naselle junior star's absence in the second period, after Burkhalter picked up his second foul just seconds into the period.
Looking to avoid a repeat of the game at South Bend, when Burkalter missed much of the second half with foul trouble, Naselle head coach Brian Macy elected to keep his leading scorer and rebounder on the bench the entire second quarter. Naselle was able to weather the storm, playing South Bend evenly after a 13-2 quarter-opening run got the Indians back in the game.
The Indians had their own issues with foul trouble in a tightly-called contest, as their dynamic backcourt duo of Brian Yi and Randy Eang battled second half foul trouble, both eventually disqualified. Eang, a 15-point-per game scorer who scored a season-high 27 in the first meeting of the two teams, was held to just six points.
"In all fairness to Randy, he rolled his ankle two or three games back," said Macy. "He just didn't look full speed to me."
Meanwhile, Burkhalter, now averaging 20 points per game and well over 10 rebounds, opened the second half much the same way he began the game, giving the Comets five points in their first three possessions and a 32-27 lead.
Naselle would never trail again, although with strong work on the offensive glass, the Indians kept it tight to the final two minutes, when Burkhalter hit 5-of-6 at the line and scored on a breakaway layup to close out another outstanding performance.
"He's a tough person to guard for any team we play," said Macy. "Maybe except for Astoria with their quickness. If you put a big guy on him he'll go by. He's got a knack for picking up fouls."
Naselle plays its final two regular season games on the road: at Tacoma Bapist tomorrow and at Northwest Christian next Thursday night. The Comets beat both teams at home and if they can pull off road wins Naselle has an outside chance to move into fourth place heading into the district playoffs, which begin on Valentine's Day.
"We should be able to go to Northwest Christian and get a win if we play well," said Macy. "I have a feeling that's going to be a battle. That'll be just like a district tournament game for us."
SOUTH BEND 6 21 9 17 -- 53
Yi 10, Eang 6, Rose 16, Dokter 2, Lazelle, Howard, Wetterauer, Huber 2, Michell 17.
NASELLE 14 13 14 20 -- 61
Sultemeier 8, Griss 7, K. Burkhalter 25, A. Burkhlater 5, Smith 11, Heagy 5, Ray, Hines, See, Erickson.
With the win, the Comets are now tied with the Indians for fifth place in the Pacific 2B League standings at 5-7. Both teams have clinched district tournament berths.
Naselle grabbed an early 11-0 with Burkhalter scoring the first six points before the Indians fought back to take their only lead of the game in the second period. The Indians took advantage of the Naselle junior star's absence in the second period, after Burkhalter picked up his second foul just seconds into the period.
Looking to avoid a repeat of the game at South Bend, when Burkalter missed much of the second half with foul trouble, Naselle head coach Brian Macy elected to keep his leading scorer and rebounder on the bench the entire second quarter. Naselle was able to weather the storm, playing South Bend evenly after a 13-2 quarter-opening run got the Indians back in the game.
The Indians had their own issues with foul trouble in a tightly-called contest, as their dynamic backcourt duo of Brian Yi and Randy Eang battled second half foul trouble, both eventually disqualified. Eang, a 15-point-per game scorer who scored a season-high 27 in the first meeting of the two teams, was held to just six points.
"In all fairness to Randy, he rolled his ankle two or three games back," said Macy. "He just didn't look full speed to me."
Meanwhile, Burkhalter, now averaging 20 points per game and well over 10 rebounds, opened the second half much the same way he began the game, giving the Comets five points in their first three possessions and a 32-27 lead.
Naselle would never trail again, although with strong work on the offensive glass, the Indians kept it tight to the final two minutes, when Burkhalter hit 5-of-6 at the line and scored on a breakaway layup to close out another outstanding performance.
"He's a tough person to guard for any team we play," said Macy. "Maybe except for Astoria with their quickness. If you put a big guy on him he'll go by. He's got a knack for picking up fouls."
Naselle plays its final two regular season games on the road: at Tacoma Bapist tomorrow and at Northwest Christian next Thursday night. The Comets beat both teams at home and if they can pull off road wins Naselle has an outside chance to move into fourth place heading into the district playoffs, which begin on Valentine's Day.
"We should be able to go to Northwest Christian and get a win if we play well," said Macy. "I have a feeling that's going to be a battle. That'll be just like a district tournament game for us."
SOUTH BEND 6 21 9 17 -- 53
Yi 10, Eang 6, Rose 16, Dokter 2, Lazelle, Howard, Wetterauer, Huber 2, Michell 17.
NASELLE 14 13 14 20 -- 61
Sultemeier 8, Griss 7, K. Burkhalter 25, A. Burkhlater 5, Smith 11, Heagy 5, Ray, Hines, See, Erickson.
posted by Matt Richert at 9:19 AM
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