Mule girls start season with 2 wins

The Wahkiakum Lady Mule basketball team started the 2008-09 season with three wins this past week.

The Mules opened with a 65-47 win over the Comettes at Naselle on December 3.

The Mules led 15-11 after one quarter, 33-22 at halftime, and 43-35 after three quarters.

Shelby Deaton led the Mules with 21 points and 21 rebounds. Halie Boyce scored 12 points, Kari Schillios 10, Jordyn Wirkkala eight, Ashley Helms seven, Evelyn Clark four, Brianna Olsen three, and Shelby Felton two.

Helms had nine rebounds, and Wirkkala and Schillios each had seven. Deaton and Helms each made three steals, and Wirkkala had six assists.

Comette Emily Green led all scorers with 24 points. Nicole Tarabochia had 14, Taylor Wasmundt four, Nicole Laney two, Shelby Leeland two and Oriane Condon one.

"It was a great first game for us," said first-year Mule Coach Tiffany Niemeyer. "Naselle is a scrappy team, and Green is hard to stop. We made some adjustments at half time and held her to eight points in the second half."

On Saturday, the Lady Mules thumped South Bend 61-39. The Mules led 12-10 after one quarter but started pulling away to lead 27-21 at halftime and 42-29 after three quarters.

"We made some adjustments at half time and played a better second half," Niemeyer said. "We have some work to do!"

Boyce led the scoring with 24 points. Deaton had 14, Wirkkala nine, Clark and Schillios four each, Blaine Land three, Olsen two and Helms one.

Deaton had 10 rebounds, Clark seven, Helms and Schillios six each and Wirkkala five. Helms made seven assists, and Wirkkala had six. Boyce had six steals, Helms five and Wirkkala four.

Last night,Wednesday, the Mules entertained Napavine Tigers. They go to Adna this Saturday and entertain Pe Ell on December 16.