Mules maul T-wolves, fall to Napavine

Fans who showed up for the Mules’ latest home game witnessed a milestone many have probably never seen in a varsity-level game.

After trailing 27-24 at the half to Morton-White Pass, the Mules came out fiery in the second half and mopped the floor with the visiting Timberwolves en route to a 58-33 shellacking.

The astonishing feat? In the second half the Mules’ defense held the T-wolves offense to just 6 points, all via free throws, while forcing them to go 0 for 26 from the field.

Leading the Mules offensively were Lars Blix and Wyatt Parker, each racking up a double-double with 13 points/11 rebounds and 10 points/10 rebounds, respectively. Ryan Helms added 12 points and three assists while John Chambers chipped in with nine points and 4 assists. Brett Chaput added eight more while Peter Wieler (three points), Brandon Fudge (two), and Zach Pierce (one) rounded out the scoring.

Two days earlier, the Mules suffered a 63-50 defeat on the road against the Napavine Tigers.

The Mules led by five points after one quarter, but that didn’t last long as Napavine outscored the Mules 15-5 in the second and continued to win both the third and fourth quarters.

Chambers led the Mules with nine points and four steals while Parker, eight points/ four rebounds/ three assists, and Blix, six points/ eight rebounds/ two steals, both had strong games. Joel Nicolazzi added eight points, with Wieler and Helms six apiece, Fudge five, and Chaput two.

The junior varsity squad dropped both games this past week, falling 53-48 to Napavine and 43-35 to Morton-White Pass.

Steven Doumit posted a season-high-tying 26 points against the Tigers with Tylor Russell adding eight and Eli McElroy seven. Travis Wegdahl tossed in three more with Collan Riley and Austin Good two apiece. Against the Timberwolves, McElroy was the high man with 11 points with Doumit a close second with 10. Shane Souvenir recorded a personal season-high with eight points, while Wegdahl, Good, and Mitchel Dault added two apiece.

The Mules travel to Pe Ell to face the defending state champions before returning home for a three-game stretch starting this Friday against the Toutle Lake Ducks.