Lady Mules claim district championship

Photos by Todd Wilson

With sports seasons shortened because of the pandemic this year, the Wahkiakum Mules girls basketball team went as far and as high as they could go, claiming the crown in a four day District 4 2B tournament last week.

After winning on Monday and Tuesday, the Lady Mules took on Ilwaco and the Fishermen's Erika Glenn, who scored 58 points in their own quarterfinal game on Tuesday.

The Lady Mules beat Ilwaco in the semifinals, 72-31, and held Glenn to under 20 points.

Jansi Merz had 19 points, six rebounds, and six steals. Reigha Niemeyer scored 13 points, Emmie Niemela 11, and Megan Leitz had seven points and six assists. Miya Kerstetter and Courtney Carlson added six points apiece. Kamryn Watkins had four points. Paige Mace produced three points, nine assists, and seven steals. Bailey McKinley finished the game with three points.

Lady Mules 26 19 17 10 --72

Ilwaco 7 8 5 11 --31

On Thursday, the Lady Mules faced Toledo in the district championship and won 55-29.

Merz had 21 points and 18 rebounds. Niemeyer had nine points. Leitz had seven points. Niemela scored six points. Mace had five points and 10 assists. Carlson added four points, and Miya Kerstetter finished the game with three.

Lady Mules 13 11 13 18 --55

Toledo 7 2 10 10 --29

"It was a great finish to the season," Coach Rob Garrett said. "Girls were playing some of their best basketball down the stretch. Our defense was a great team effort, and when we had trouble scoring, Jansi (Merz) would bail us out with a bucket."

"Three district titles in a row is no joke," he continued. "This group has worked extremely hard and earned their way into the record books."