Mules head to state tournament

The Wahkiakum Mule boys basketball team finished fourth in the Southwest 2B Boys District Basketball Tournament and qualified for the state tournament this week in Spokane.

The Mules opened state tournament play yesterday evening after The Eagle had gone to press against St. George's of Spokane. The Dragons had opened their season with a win, lost two games, and finished with a 17-0 run to complete the regular season 18-2, 14-0 in Panorama League play. They lost the Eastern Bi-District championship game to Northwest Christian, Colbert, 61-50.

Check The Eagle's website, http://www.waheagle.com, for daily updates from our tournament correspondent, Steve McClain.

The Mules played three games in three days. They started with a 73-50 loss in the semifinals to the undefeated Toutle Lake Ducks. That dropped them into a loser-out, winner to state match with the Adna Pirates on Friday, and the Mules came away with a 62-44 win. The win moved the Mules into a Saturday afternoon battle with the Napavine Tigers for third and fourth places; the Tigers won 63-57.

The Mules used their defense and rebounding advantage to jump ahead of Toutle and take a 19-14 first quarter lead. Then the Ducks took control, outscoring the Mules 22-8 in the second quarter to lead 36-27 at halftime. They outscored the Mules 37-22 in the second half as their defense picked the Mule offense apart.

Josh Rongey and Bobby Helms each scored 13 points for the Mules. Tyler Benson had nine, Hayden Miles six, Cody Olsen and Chase Fritzie three each, and Tyson Bain and Ross Lofstrom one each.

Toutle 73, Wahkiakum 50

Toutle Lake14221720--73

Wahkiakum1981111--50

Ducks--Luke Lidquist 14, Brandon Hoff 9, Bobby Breece 11, Brandon Bartlett 18, Jeston Harris 9, Jeff Campbell 7, Chris Foster 0, Tyler Elam 2, Cody O'Connor 0, Wyant Gardner 3, Taylor Schnebly 0.

Mules--Josh Rongey 13, Cody Olsen 3, Hayden Miles 6, Bobby Helms 13, Tyler Benson 9, Tyson Bain 1, Andrew Weiler 0, Troy Howard 0, Chase Fritzie 3, Drew Windsor 0, Ross Lofstrom 1, Chris Diaz 0.

The Mules found themselves up against a foe who had beaten them twice during the season, but they turned the tables on the Pirates this time with a 62-44 win.

Adna took a 15-9 lead early on, but the Mule defense started forcing bad passes which turned into a 29-26 Mule halftime lead.

The second half belonged to the Mules, who outscored the Pirates 33-18 in the final two quarters.

Rongey led the charge with 28 points. Olsen added 17. The Mules made 17 of 20 free throws.

Wahkiakum 62, Adna 44

Adna151199--44

Wahkiakum9201320--62

Pirates--Robbie Elliott 16, Danfield 6, Fitzgerald 6, Lawler 2, Kimbell 3, Kohler 3, White 3, Grosshans 5.

Mules--Josh Rongey 28, Cody Olsen 17, Miles 7, Benson 2, Helms 4, Fritzie 4, Diaz 0, Lofstrom 0, Windsor 0, Howard 0, Weiler 0.

With the trip to state under wraps, the Mules found themselves battling the Napavine Tigers for third and fourth places in district and better state bracket spots.

The Mules had beaten the Tigers in their two meetings this season, but this time the Tigers prevailed 63-57.

The Tigers led 37-20 at halftime and withstood a furious Mule rally. The Mules outscored Napavine 37-30 in the second half, cutting the lead to two points late in the game, but they could never take the lead.

Olsen led the Mule scoring with 20 points; Helms had 21, Miles 11, Rongey 10 and Benson four.

Napavine 63, Wahkiakum 57

Napavine1617921--63

Wahkiakum1281423--57

Tigers--Hamre 6, Keller 1, Brown 3, Carns 15, Lantau 2, Anthony 25, Ramirez 5, Vigre 6.

Mules--Rongey 10, Olsen 20, Miles 11, Helms 12, Benson 4, Fritzie 0.