Curlew was handed a 44-point loss in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Saturday. In a tight matchup that could have gone either way, they made off with a 45-44 victory over Nespelem. The score was all tied up 18-18 at the break, but the Cougars were the better team in the second half.

Sylas Stotts
| 12/20/25 vs Nespelem | 16 |
| 12/19/25 vs Northport | 15 |
| 12/16/25 vs Republic | 4 |
| 12/12/25 @ Selkirk | 2 |
| 12/05/25 vs Tonasket | 13 |
| + 1 more games |
Curlew found their leader in sophomore Sylas Stotts, who dropped a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds. Stotts continues to improve, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. Gabriel (Gabe) Pak was another key player, putting up seven points and five boards.
Curlew's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-8.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming contests. After both having extra time off, Curlew and Oroville will shake off the rust and duke it out at 4:00 p.m. on January 2, 2026. As for Nespelem, they will challenge Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame at 4:30 p.m. on January 2, 2026.
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