Lady Mules lose to Pirates, Tigers

The Wahkiakum Lady Mule girls basketball team had good starts but couldn't sustain their efforts in their last two games of the regular season.

The Mules led Central League champion Napavine 11-7 after one quarter, but the Tigers turned on the defense and won 56-44 on Tuesday.

The Mules led 19-11 at one point in the second quarter, but Napavine led 23-22 at halftime and 37-30 after three quarters. The Mules made a run at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Tigers held on to win.

Halie Boyce led the scoring for the Mules with 17 points. Evelyn Clark had eight, Jordyn Wirkkala six, Shelby Felton five, Ashley Helms four, Blaine Land three and Brianne Helms one.

Clark grabbed 11 rebounds, and Wirkkala had 10. Wirkkala made four assists; A. Helms had three and Boyce two. Boyce made five steals; Clark and A. Helms had three each, and Wirkkala and Shelby Felton had two each.

The Mules made 15 of 58 shots, 26 percent, and 11 of 24 free throws, 46 percent. Napavine made 16 of 48 shots, 33 percent, and 18 of 20 free throws, 90 percent.

The game was the last home game for seniors Boyce, Rebecka Patching, A. Helms, Clark and Wirkkala.

Last Saturday, the Mules lost 60-53 to the Adna Pirates in Adna.

The Pirates led 20-19 after one quarter; the Mules outscored them 18-10 to lead 37-31 at halftime. Adna, however, outscored the Mules 14-7 in the third quarter and 15-9 in the fourth to win.

"We played a great first half," said Mule Coach Tiffany Niemeyer. "The second half, we went cold, and they couldn't miss. The girls had a good effort, but we just didn't pull through."

Wirkkala led the Mule scoring with 17 points. Boyce had 15, Clark 13, A. Helms five, Felton two and Land one. Clark and Wirkkala each had 10 rebounds; Patching had seven and Felton four. A. Helms made eight assists and four steals. Boyce had four steals, and Wirkkala made four assists.

The Mules made 21 of 68 shots, 31 percent, and eight of 17 free throws, 47 percent.

Adna made 19 of 56 shots, 34 percent, and 13 of 17 free throws, 76 percent.