Mule boys win one, drop two games

The Wahkiakum Mules came out red hot against Napavine last Wednesday night when they hosted the Tigers in a Central 2B League matchup, netting 22 points while converting on five three pointers in the opening quarter.

Unfortunately, the Mules managed just 23 points over the final three quarters as they fell 46-45 to the Tigers.

Despite scoring only eight points in the second quarter, the Mules went into the break clinging to a narrow 30-25 lead. After halftime, the Mules came out in the third quarter and nearly dropped a goose egg, going scoreless for the first 6:48 before Austin Good sank a circus-style shot from six feet out; he was fouled and converted the and-one free throw.

Shane Souvenir then added a fade-away shot of his own from the right low block about thirty seconds later to draw the Mules to within one after three quarters, 36-35.

The fourth quarter saw a bit more offense from the Mules, but trailing by one point with just over four seconds on the clock, Souvenir’s baseline jumper came up empty as time expired, sending the Mules to a disappointing 4-6 in league play (8-6 overall).

Souvenir paced the Mules with 14 points, 12 rebounds and a season-high seven blocks. Seth Doumit added 10 points and five assists and Good chipped in seven points, seven rebounds and five assists. Gunnar Blix added six points, Brandon Budd five, and Travis Wegdahl three.

The Mules rebounded nicely from their loss earlier in the week to cruise past Pe Ell, 73-54, on the road Friday night.

Once again they opened up the game with a 22-point first quarter, and despite squandering a 13-point first quarter advantage to take a 32-29 halftime lead, the Mules came out and pummeled the Trojans in the second half, outscoring Pe Ell 51-25 in the final 16 minutes.

Souvenir exploded for 33 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mules. Wegdahl added a season-high 14 points, Doumit tossed in nine, Budd seven, and five apiece from Good and Brady LaBerge. As a team, the Mules also picked up 18 steals for the game, led by Budd’s six, and Doumit and Good dished out six assists apiece.

Saturday night proved to be a much tougher challenge than Friday’s opponent as the Mules travelled to take on league stalwart Morton-White Pass.

In a much improved effort from the last time the two teams met, the Mules matched the Timberwolves basket for basket throughout the game. The Mules led 21-20 after the opening quarter of play and trailed by only five points at the break.

The lead remained at five after three quarters, but despite a valiant fourth quarter effort from the Mules, that included a one-point lead with just three minutes remaining, the Timberwolves’ depth and size was too much to overcome as MWP escaped with a 77-66 victory.

Souvenir burst out another 30 point night to lead the Mules, and was complemented nicely by Doumit’s 17 and Good’s 12. Budd added five points, seven assists and four rebounds and Wegdahl added two points and two blocks.