Mules hit slide, drop three straight

The Mules have hit a bump in the road this season after coming up short in all three of their games this past week. The team’s troubles began last Thursday night against the Mossyrock Vikings. After taking a 17-point lead into the half, 39-22, the Mules imploded in the third quarter, giving up a season-worst 29 points in the third quarter alone while managing just 11 points of their own. A tough fourth quarter saw the game deadlocked at 69 at the end of regulation, but in the extra frame the Mules could muster only a mere three points to Mossy’s 13, falling 82-72. Shane Souvenir paced the Mules with 30 points and 11 rebounds and Brandon Budd knocked in 16. Austin Good tallied another 11, Seth Doumit and Travis Wegdahl added seven apiece, and Brady LaBerge one. Doumit dished out six assists and Wegdahl four in the losing effort.

The struggle continued on the road Saturday night at a feisty Toutle Lake, where the Mules rallied back from being down 12 early to trail by just four points in the closing minutes of the game before succumbing to the Ducks, 61-47. Souvenir netted 22 points and grabbed 8 boards and Budd scored eight to go with his six rebounds. Doumit added six points, Wegdahl five, and Good four.

For three quarters of play on Tuesday night, the Mules looked to have overcome their recent slide as they battled with the visiting Adna Pirates, but in the end the Mules failed to capitalize on opportunities and wound up stunned in a 48-46 loss to Adna. The Mules entered the final quarter with a 36-31 advantage, but Souvenir and Wegdahl were both forced to the bench with foul trouble as the Pirates chipped away and eventually captured the lead. The Pirates took the lead for good on a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

In the Mules’ final possession, Souvenir got an open look from the baseline with two seconds on the clock, but his attempt rimmed out as time expired. The Mules struggled to work the ball inside all game against the Pirates, who employed a zone defense that forced the Mules to try and beat them over the top. Ultimately, the Mules managed to hit just 5 of 22 three-point attempts (22.7%).

Doumit was the leading man for the Mules with 13 points and nine assists. Budd added 10 points and five rebounds, Souvenir and Wegdahl chipped in eight points apiece, and Good scored seven. Souvenir pulled in eight rebounds and Budd picked up three steals.

The Mules look to get back on track when they travel to Winlock on Friday.