Mules lose to Tigers, dump Knights, Ducks

One day you're up; the next day you're down. The Wahkiakum Mule boys basketball game found itself in the reverse of that observation this past week.

Last Thursday the Mules lost 57-42 at home to the Napavine Tigers. The loss dropped them out of first place in the Central League.

Napavine led a defensive ball game 23-22 at halftime. The Mules took a brief lead in the third quarter, but the lid went on the basket; the Mule offense stalled, and the Tigers pulled away to win.

Cody Olsen led the Mule scoring with 15 points. Ty Bain and Wyatt Parker added 10 each, John Chambers four and Brandon Fudge three.

Micah Brown led the Tigers with 15 points. Reece Stanley and Colton Brown scored 12 and 11, respectively.

On Monday, the Mules recovered and blew apart the Kings's Way Knights 78-35 down in Vancouver. The Mules led 23-6 after one quarter and never looked back.

Parker led the scoring with 18 points; Olsen added 17, Troy Howard 10, Bain and Chambers nine each, Cole Claussen three, and Brad Pugh and Ryan Helms two each.

On Tuesday, the Mules did something they've done only one other time in the 20 or more years--they won at Toutle Lake, beating the Ducks 75-61. The win also helped them reclaim a share of the league lead.

"We played our best game of the year," Mule Coach Bill Olsen said.

The Mules led 21-19 after one quarter and outscored the hosts 15-8 in the second and 24-18 in the third to take control.

Cody Olsen led the scoring with 29 points. Chambers put in 15, Howard 12, Justin McClain seven, Parker six, Bain five and Pugh one.

Howard made six steals and five assists, and Chambers had three assists.

The Mule boys are at Pe Ell on Friday and then host the White Pass Panthers January 29 in their last home game of the season.