Mules beat Ilwaco; headed to state

The Wahkiakum Mules girls basketball team is going to the State 2B Tournament in Spokane for the first time since 2010 after a 54-38 win against Ilwaco last weekend.

The two teams met for the first time on Saturday in a loser out regional game in Chehalis at W.F. West High School. They spent the first eight minutes getting a feel for each other, and ended the first quarter tied 11-11.

Wahkiakum defense held Ilwaco to two points in the second quarter, and the Fishermen were unable to score again until halfway through the third. By then, the Mules had gotten comfortable and Ilwaco simply couldn't catch up.

Mules senior Kaylee Bryant scored a career high 24 points with good footwork inside and several keys passes from outside.

Bryant also had 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Peyton Souvenir had eight points, six rebounds, six assists and one steal. Sam Boyce added seven points, three rebounds, six assists and three steals. Tori Wegdahl scored six points, eight rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block. Baylee Olsen had five points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Grace Peacock had four points. Jessica Thomas had two rebounds, and Savannah Burdick added one.

"I thought we played a great game defensively," Mule Coach Rob Garrett said. "We gave up too much in the fourth quarter, but we were also on a big run. Tori and Kaylee did a great job down low with keeping everyone else away from the rebounds. Kaylee has come on so strong the last two games. She's having lights out games. It makes our team a totally different team.

"It's unfortunate for a team like Ilwaco to not be able to go to Spokane," Garrett said. "They had a great season and have a good team, but that's the unfortunate piece of having regionals and not a 16 team tournament."

Ilwaco 11 2 11 14 --38

Lady Mules 11 9 14 20 --54

The Mules will travel to Spokane on Wednesday. They face Mabton in the first round on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. in the Spokane Arena.

"It looks like Mabton changes their defense quite a bit," Garrett said. "They are very quick and scrappy. They have a lot of good individual players, but they aren't very big. I love our draw. We're in a great spot. If our girls trust each other and work hard together I definitely feel we have a realistic possibility of bringing home that gold ball."