Lady Mules win 2 of 3 league games

The Wahkiakum Lady Mules basketball team won two of three Central League games this past week.

Last Wednesday, the Mules lost 50-40 to a Napavine Tiger team that played hands on defense. The Mules hung close for the first quarter, 12-8, but turnovers and foul trouble put them in a hole in the second quarter, and the Lady Tigers outscored them 26-15 in the second and third quarters to take control.

Halie Boyce led the Mule scoring with 11 points. Shelby Deaton and Evelyn Clark each scored nine, Ashley Helms and Brieanna Olsen four each, Jordyn Wirkkala two and Shelby Felton one. Deaton had 12 rebounds, and Clark had seven.

On Saturday, the Mules overwhelmed the Lady Pirates 78-57 in Adna. The Mules played strong defense and jumped ahead 25-14 in the first quarter and weren't threatened.

"This game was a great team effort," said Coach Tiffany Niemeyer. "Every player contributed. We are really starting to come together as a team and focus on accomplishing our team goals on a game-to-game basis. The girls are really positive and supportive of each other and of the program. I think they are having fun and working hard.

The Mules had five players score in double figures. Wirkkala led the scoring with 20 points; Boyce put in 14, Clark and Helms 12 each and Deaton 11. Rebecka Patching scored four, Kari Schillios and Olsen two each and Blaine Land one.

Clark, Schillios and Deaton each had eight rebounds, and Helms and Shelby Felton each had seven. Helms made eight steals, and Boyce had eight assists.

The Mules made 27 of 58 shots, 47 percent, and 20 of 38 free throws, 53 percent.

On Tuesday, the Lady Mules blasted the visiting Pe Ell Trojans 58-36. The Mules led 31-8 at halftime.

"We had a great first half and held them under double digits," Niemeyer said. "The girls need to learn how to hunt like a pride and go for the jugular and finish teams."

Boyce led the scoring with 17 points. Helms had 11, Wirkkala and Deaton eight each, Olsen six, Clark four, and Felton and Schillios two each. Deaton had 12 rebounds, Clark seven, Wirkkala six and Helms five. Deaton and Clark made five steals apiece, and Helms made seven assists.