1B Prep Boys Basketball: Wahkiakum stuns Naselle in Olsen’s return to Cathlamet

The Barn – Stoddard sinks seven 3’s in Mules’ 63-48 win over Comets to open postseason

Wahkiakum’s Jayden Stoddard turns the corner on a Naselle defender during the opening round of the 1B District IV boys basketball tournament, Wednesday, Feb. 12, in Cathlamet. Stoddard scored a game-high 21 points in a 63-48 win. — Courtesy of Todd Wilson

Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

CATHLAMET – It had been nearly 4,000 days since Bill Olsen had set foot in The Barn at Wah-Ki-Hi prior to Wednesday night’s tilt between his Naselle Comets and the hometown Wahkiakum Mules. Speculation before the contest was that it might be another 4,000 before he considered breaking a promise to never return.

But playoff basketball has a way of making people think a little differently, and Olsen has never been one to shy away from competition. So, when the basketball gods commanded that the Naselle boys basketball team would have to venture east over Km Mountain for a contest against his old Mules to open the 1B District IV Tournament, Olsen knew he had to be there.

But his long awaited, highly anticipated, and largely speculated return did not come with a storybook ending. At least not for Olsen and the Comets.

Instead, Wahkiakum secured a 63-48 win and took a victory lap in the Battle for Km Mountain series after reclaiming the trophy earlier this season in a win back at the barn. Notably, Olsen was not in attendance for that non-league affair against his old school back in January.

“I hadn’t been in here in 10 years,” Olsen said. “There were a lot of friends in the stands and a lot of friends came down and shook my hand and welcomed me back. That was pretty cool. That was pretty warm.”

But as warm as the welcome was for the ex-Wahkiakum coach, the end result was a cold bucket of water to the face for the Comets.

After watching their girls team dispatch Naselle in the opening act of a twin feature earlier in the evening, the Mules rode the immaculate vibes filling their home gymnasium to a start that was as hot as a well-stoked wood stove. Wahkiakum posted 20 points in the opening quarter to build up a six-point lead and showcased a shooting touch that would become a recurring theme throughout the night.

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