Mules win 2 of 3, clinch district berth today

The Wahkiakum Mule boys are looking to put a rough regular season behind them as they open district play this Thursday (tonight) against the Toutle Lake Ducks in Castle Rock at 6:30 p.m.

Unlike previous seasons, a district seed was not automatically given to the Mules; rather they had to earn it by way of a play-in game, the Mules’ third game in five days.

The three-game stretch began with senior night on Thursday versus the Pe Ell Trojans. In a game that was back and forth for much of it, the Mules ultimately came out on top with a much-needed 60-56 win that snapped the team’s five-game losing streak.

Wyatt Parker had a big game with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. Joel Nicolazzi added 10 points, six boards and four assists, while Ryan Helms chipped in nine points in the first half before leaving the game with a sprained ankle. Lars Blix tossed in eight more points, pulled in six rebounds and nabbed four steals. Brett Chaput added six points and 11 boards, and John Chambers netted five and dished out seven assists.

The victory put the Mules in a tie for 6th place with Pe Ell, but due to Mossyrock losing against Morton-White Pass, the Mules and Trojans were forced to playoff for 6th and 7th.

Unfortunately, the Mules were unable to repeat their performance Saturday night as they fell to the Trojans 72-60 in a game played at Mossyrock.

Chambers paced the Mules with 12 points while Chaput, Parker, and Blix added 11, 10, and eight, respectively.

With the loss the Mules were on the brink of not qualifying for districts as the 7th-place Mules had to play the Pacific League’s 6th-place team, the North Beach Hyaks, with the winner going to districts.

To no surprise, Monday night’s game in Winlock versus the Hyaks was another nail biter, coming down to the final seconds of the game when Chambers hit an NBA-range 3-pointer with 28 ticks of the clock remaining and the Mules down by two.

The three-point basket was one of nine made by the Mules that night as the Hyaks' 2-1-2 defense was tough to penetrate.

Chambers led the way with a game-high 19 points, while Blix and Parker contributed strongly with 13 points and eight rebounds, and 11 points and nine rebounds, respectively.

The junior varsity closed out an 11-8 season with a convincing 59-31 win against Pe Ell, thanks in large part to a 25-point third quarter that sealed the game.

Travis Wegdahl was the game’s high man with 13 points while Steven and Seth Doumit added 12 and 11. Shane Souvenir chipped in with five, Austin Good four, and Eli McElroy and Mitchel Dault three apiece.

The Mules start district tournament action today (Thursday) against Toutle Lake at Castle Rock at 6:30 p.m.

The winner plays Willapa Valley on Saturday, 5:30 p.m., in Montesano.

The loser plays Feb 16 at Rochester, 6:30 p.m., against the loser of games involving NW Christian, Raymond, and Mossyrock.