Lady Mules cool off Comettes

The Wahkiakum Lady Mule basketball team gained two wins this past week.

On Thursday, the Mules rallied in the second half to edge the Naselle Comettes 48-44.

The two teams ended the first quarter tied 5-5. The Mules led 18-16 at halftime as Haylee Budd put in a shot at the buzzer.

In the third quarter, Comette Carley Kitzman led a Comette surge that built a four point lead, but the Mules, sparked by freshman Sam Boyce, responded and led 31-27 at the end of the frame.

The Mules built a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and held on for the 48-44 non-league victory.

"We got off to a slow start, and/or shots were falling in the first half," commented Mule Coach Tiffany Niemeyer. "We definitely need to improve our field goal and shooting percentages. At times our defense looked promising.

"Marissa Washington came in off the bench and played great defense against Naselle's Kitzman. Also, Budd took two charges."

Kitzman scored 23 points for the Comettes to lead all scorers. Makenzie Matthews scored 13 for Naselle; Ciara Sandell had six, and Victoria Corona two.

Freshman Baylee Olsen led the Mule scoring with 11 points. Boyce and Blaine Land each had eight, Budd and Brianne Helms seven each, Brieanna Olsen six, and Washington one.

The Mules made 17 of 66 shots, 26 percent, and 10 of 21 free throws, 48 percent. The Comettes made 14 of 45 shots, 31 percent, and 10 of 30 free throws, 43 percent.

Naselle and Wahkiakum boys and girls teams meet in Naselle on December 22, with the varsities battling for the boys and girls KM Trophies. The action starts at 2:30 p.m. with the girls JV; following will be boys JV, girls varsity and boys varsity.

The Mules played at Winlock on Tuesday and at Adna on Thursday. They entertain Mossyrock next Tuesday.

On December 6, the Mules pulled out a 51-50 win at Kalama over the Chinooks.

The Chinooks led 38-24 after three quarters, and the Mules outscored them 26-12 in the final period to win.

"We finally come to play in the fourth quarter when we outscored ourselves," Niemeyer said. "This game shows that we didn't give up when we were down by 14 at the end of the third quarter and we fought back; it shows that the girls have heart and determination."

Maya Stanley led the Mule scoring with 16 points. Boyce had 13, Baylee Olsen nine, Brieanna Olsen seven, Budd five and Land one.

Land grabbed 13 rebounds; Budd had 11 and Boyce nine. Land had five assists, and Stanley made three steals.

The Mules made 14 of 31 free throws, 45 percent; the Chinooks made five of 17 for 29 percent.

On Tuesday, the Mules overwhelmed the Winlock Cardinals 68-36 for their first Central League win.

Brieanna Olsen scored 20, Stanley 13, Helms 10, Land seven, Budd six, Washington four and Baylee Olsen three.

Helms made 10 assists and five steals; Land and Washington each had seven rebounds, and Baylee Olsen had six.

The Mules made 27 of 52 shots, 52 percent, and seven of 10 free throws, 70 percent.