After win, 2 losses knock Mules out of state tourney

Day 1

Wahkiakum races past Orcas Island

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Halie Boyce scored 22 points and Jordyn Wirkkala added 18 as Wahkiakum pulled away from Orcas Island for a 63-45 win in the first round of the Class 2B girls state tournament on Wednesday.

The Mules (14-7) will face the winner of Wednesday's Colfax-DeSales game in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The Vikings (12-6) will meet the loser of that game.

Tied at 32-all, Boyce scored on consecutive baskets to key a 10-0 run as the Mules grabbed a 42-32 lead with 2:50 left in the third quarter. Orcas Island managed to pull within 44-40 early in the fourth on a shot by Emily Diepenbrock, but a Wirkkala 3-pointer triggered a 19-5 Wahkiakum burst to close the game.

Brieanna Olsen added 15 points -- hitting 4-of-5 from 3-point range -- for the Mules, who shot 52 percent from the floor in the second half to pull away.

Stephanie Shaw had 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Orcas Island, which committed 18 turnovers. Diepenbrock added 11 points.

WAHKIAKUM (63)--Helms 0, Crouse 0, Felton 1, Budd 0, Boyce 22, Patching 0, Helms 0, Olsen 15, Wirkkala 18, Clark 4, Land 3. Totals 21-53 12-23 63.

ORCAS ISLAND (45)--McCormick 0, Padbury 9, Shaw 13, Thomas 0, O'Toole 6, Fowler 0, Bronn 0, Diepenbrock 11, Janssen 0, Klein 0, Hofman 6. Totals 17-52 7-15 45.

Day 2

Colfax 75, Wahkiakum 45

The Wahkiakum Lady Mules ran into juggernaut Colfax, defending Class 2B champions, and lost 75-45 in the state quarterfinals Thursday.

The Bulldogs grabbed a 14-7 lead in the first quarter and outscored the Mules 24-14 in the second quarter. They had a 58-41 edge in rebounds.

Jordyn Wirkkala and Halie Boyce each had 14 points for the Mules. Evelyn Clark had four; Brieanna Olsen, Brianne Helms and Shelby Felton each had three, and Rebecka Patching and Ashley Helms each had two.

Kayla Johnson led Colfax with 17 points; she was later named tournament most valuable player.

The loss dropped the Mules into the bracket leading to fourth and seventh places; they played Liberty Bell Friday, with the loser out and the winner advancing to the Saturday finale.

Colfax went on to defeat Toutle Lake 42-33 in the semifinals and win the championship, dumping LaSalle 52-43.

Day 3

Liberty Bell 55, Wahkiakum 51

The Liberty Bell Mountain Lions defeated the Wahkiakum Lady Mules 55-51 Friday, knocking the Mules out of the state tournament.

The Mountain Lions built a nine-point lead, 27-18 at halftime. The Mules came back in the second half, outscoring Liberty Bell 18-13 in the fourth quarter in a charge led by Halie Boyce, Ashley Helms and Jordyn Wirkkala.

Boyce hit a three pointer with eight seconds left to cut the deficit to 53-51, but the Mules couldn't get the ball in the basket again. Shelby Scott hit two free throws with 4.8 seconds for the Lions to move them into a final day battle for fourth and seventh places.

Mule scoring was Boyce 24, Wirkkala 15, A. Helms six, Evelyn Clark four and Shelby Felton two.

The Mules made 21 of 26 free throws and led in rebounds 42-36.

The Mules finished the season with a 14-9 record. They placed third in Central League standings and won the SW Class 2B District girls championship. Senior players were Boyce, Wirkkala, A. Helms, Clark and Patching.