Lady Mules start season hot by winning first four

The Wahkiakum Lady Mules basketball team posted four wins in four games in the first week of the 2009-2010 season.

On Tuesday, the Mules steamrolled a young team from King's Way Christian school in Vancouver by a 93-13 score. The Knights scored the first two points for a 2-0 lead, but the Mule press ate them alive after that. The Mules led 25-4 after one quarter, 43-4 at halftime, and 78-8 after three quarters. Coach Tiffany Niemeyer substituted freely.

The Mules jumped to a 17-8 first quarter lead over visiting South Bend and won 81-45 on Saturday. The Mules outscored South Bend 26-13 in the second quarter and 21-5 to win going away.

JordynWirkkala poured in 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Halie Boyce had 18 points, Evelyn Clark 12, Rebecka Patching nine, Brieanna Olsen six, Ashley Helms four, Shelby Felton and Blaine Land two each, and Brianne Helms one.

Clark had eight rebounds and four steals; Land and Patching had six rebounds, Olsen five and Felton four. Wirkkala made five assists, and Boyce had four.

"Jordyn had a great night," Niemeyer said. She shot 90 percent, nine of 10, from the field and 100 percent, nine of nine, from the line. Rebecka (Patching) came in off the bench and gave us some great minutes and contributed nine points and six rebounds. She shot five of six from the line."

As a team, the Mules made 26 of 67 shots, 39 percent, and 27 of 49 free throws, 55 percent. South Bend made 16 of 52 shots, 31 percent, and nine of 15 free throws, 60 percent.

Last Thursday, the Mules beat the Ilwaco Lady Fishermen 71-43.

Wirkkala led the scoring with 20 points. Clark had 16, Boyce 15, Ashley Helms six, Brianna Helms five, Patching four, Olsen three, and Felton two.

Ashley Helms had 10 rebounds, six steals and five assists. Clark had six rebounds and four steals. Olsen five rebounds, and Wirkkala four rebounds, and five steals. Felton made eight assists, and Boyce had six.

The Mules made 28 of 58 shots, 48 percent, and 10 of 13 free throws, 77 percent. Ilwaco made 14 of 59 shots, 24 percent, and 12 of 23 free throws, 52 percent.

The Mules opened the season with a 56-33 win over the Naselle Comettes and claimed the girls' KM Basketball Trophy.

"We got off to a slow start and had some first game jitters," Niemeyer said. "We settled down in the second half, played great help side defense, and blocked out well. We out rebounded them the whole game."

Boyce and Wirkkala led the scoring with 12 points each. Felton had 11, Olsen and Ashley Helms five each, Patching three, and Land two.

Ashley Helms had 12 rebounds, and Clark, Wirkkala and Boyce each had 10. Ashley Helms and Clark each had five steals, and Boyce had four. Boyce made five assists.

For the Comettes, Emily Green led the scoring with nine points. Taylor Wasmundt had seven, Nicole Tarabochia five, Haleigh See and Sam Bauer three each, and Kaelee Dearmore two.

The Comettes made 11 of 59 shots, 19 percent, and eight of 23 free throws, 35 percent.