Lady Mules win two, lose one at district

The Wahkiakum Lady Mules have posted a 2-1 record in the district tournament and play the Raymond Gulls tonight (Thursday) in a loser out game, 8 p.m., in Rochester.

The winner of that game qualifies for the regional tournament; the loser is eliminated.

The Mules opened district tournament action with a 52-45 overtime win over the Willapa Valley Lady Vikings on February 6. They followed that with a 43-32 loss to the Morton/White Pass Timberwolves on Saturday. On Tuesday, the Mules overwhelmed the Northwest Christian Navigators 50-39 on Tuesday.

The team had a slow start against Valley and began the second quarter down by 10.

“Baylee Olsen really carried us offensively in the first half as the team really struggled to score,” said Coach Rob Garrett. “We slowly gained on them the rest of the game giving ourselves a three point lead with just over a minute to go.

"They (Willapa Valley) hit a couple shots and a couple free throws to take a three point lead of their own with 30 seconds left. Sam Boyce hit one of two from the line to put us down two and drove the length of the court for a layup to tie it up with six seconds to go. After WV missed an eight footer for the win, we secured the rebound and went into overtime.

"In overtime we really dominated; we finally played like we should have the whole game. We moved the ball well and took it to the basket. We won overtime 13-6. Sam Boyce hit four straight free throws to secure the victory.”

Olsen and Boyce each scored 15 points. Haylee Budd added eight, Tori Wegdahl had six, Kaylee Bryant scored four and Hailey Quigley and Maya Stanley both came up with two points. Tori Wegdahl pulled down 13 rebounds, Budd had 11, Boyce had nine, Olsen six; Bryant and Stanley each had five; Rachel Patching had two, and Quigley had one. Boyce also had six assists.

The Lady Mules lost 43-32 to Morton/White Pass in a quarterfinal game on Saturday in Rochester.

Wegdahl led Mule scoring with 12 points and six rebounds. Bryant scored six and pulled down seven rebounds. Stanley had five points and one rebound. Boyce scored four, had two rebounds, two steals and 3 assists. Olsen had three points and grabbed four rebounds. Budd had two points and four rebounds, and Quigley had one rebound.

The Lady Mules pulled away from Northwest Christian in the second quarter and never let up, winning 50-39.

Olsen led scoring with 19 points; Boyce followed up with 12. Wegdahl scored nine, Stanley four; Rachel Patching had three, Budd two and Bryant had one. Boyce also had seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Olsen, Wegdahl and Bryant all pulled down five boards. Bryant had two steals.

“We’re definitely young,” said Coach Garrett. “We take awhile to settle down and make smart decisions.

"Overall it was a good game for us. I was proud of the girls; they did a good job of going to the basket. [Northwest Christian] were in foul trouble early and we were smart about it and kept taking it to the basket. Got to get the young girls in; Morgan and Jess played good when they got in. We shot the ball well. We’ve really turned into a team. Nice to see us pass the ball and rely on each other. It was fun to watch.”