Lady Mules win three

Coach Rob Garrett took advantage of three easy wins this week to challenge the Wahkiakum Mules girls basketball team to focus on the details that will make the good team even better.

Last Wednesday, the Lady Mules traveled to Mossyrock and won 69-20.

"Overall, it was a great game," Coach Rob Garrett said. "Charlie (Ashe) got us going early with eight of our first 10 points. The girls worked really hard tonight, jumped the lanes and got a lot of easy baskets because of it. They also passed the ball extremely well and got each other great looks. Jansi (Merz) had a great game and took her physicality to the next level which is something we've been asking her to work on and great to see!

"Macie (Elliott) led the team with seven assists and is really starting to learn to read the defense. Paige (Mace) had a great bounce back game, bringing energy on defense and leading the scoring with 14. Ellie (Leitz) finished well around the hoop."

The Lady Mules were led by sophomores Page Mace, who had 14 points and seven assists and Jansi Merz, who scored 12 points and had seven steals. Charlie Ashe had 11 points. Macie Elliott finished the game with 10 points, seven assists, and seven steals. Ellie Leitz contributed eight points, Kimberlee Watkins had five points and nine rebounds, Alex Watkins had four points, Mckensi Fluckiger scored three, and Naia Freeman added two.

Wahkiakum 27 49 57 69

Mossyrock 2 10 16 20

On Friday, the team hosted Toledo and won 67-39.

"I thought the girls did some really good things," Coach Garrett said. "Jansi and Macie had great games. The team worked super hard, played unselfish. It wasn't a super clean game, but to beat the second/third best team in the league by 28 points is super impressive."

Elliott had a big night, scoring 24 points. She also had five assists, seven steals, and eight rebounds. Merz had 16 points and Ashe added 10. Fluckiger contributed six points and E. Leitz had four points and seven rebounds. Reigha Niemeyer, an eighth grader, scored four. K. Watkins added two points and Megan Leitz had one.

Toledo 9 6 15 9 --39

Wahkiakum 16 17 22 12 --67

On Saturday at home, the Lady Mules beat Napavine 67-21.

"We started out a little shaky," Coach Garrett said, "but we played great defense holding the Tigers to two points for the majority the first half. I challenged the team to come out in the third quarter and play with more energy and got on them for getting down on themselves for missing shots. They responded super well and focused back on 'team' and having fun. They need to finish better around the basket. That will come with time. If we clean that up and some of our turnovers, we are going to be a very solid team. We are good, but we have all the makings to be a phenomenal team."

"Paige Mace had a really good game and got things kicking off in third quarter," he added. "She got her teammates great looks when she was not available and took right shots when necessary. She had a really good game tonight."

"The girls are working hard," Garrett said. "They are a lot of fun to coach. I'm really happy with them right now."

Mace and Elliott paced the team with 14 points apiece. E. Leitz added 11 points and six steals. Merz had eight points. K. Watkins scored seven points, as did Ashe, who also had six assists. M. Leitz scored three points, Fluckiger had two, and A. Watkins finished the game with one.

Napavine 2 4 3 10 --21

Wahkiakum 13 20 25 8 --67

The Lady Mules hosted Adna at home on Wednesday. A score was not available by press time. They travel to Morton/White Pass on Friday and face Rainier at home on Saturday.