Mules win 2 of 3

Photos by Todd Wilson

The Wahkiakum Mules boys basketball team won two games this week and lost one, bringing their overall record to 4-4, and their league record to 0-1.

The Mules beat Morton/White Pass 51-45 at home last Thursday.

"We always know Morton/White Pass is going to be tough competition," Coach Todd Souvenir said. "We didn't have our best shooting night. It was a really good game to have other guys step up. It was Dom's [Curl] first really good game of the season. He finished around the hoop and did a lot of really good things. He took four charges, and most kids don't take four charges in a season. Usually those lead to big momentum swings and it gets the teammates really fired up."

"It was a good competitive game from start to finish," Souvenir added. "We had other guys step up. It was a positive to get everyone involved."

Dominic Curl scored 16 points and pulled down 11 boards. Kyler Sause added 11 points. Titan Niemela added six points, seven rebounds, and five blocks. Brodie Avalon had six points and six rebounds. Jacob Johnson had six points. Zakk Carlson added four points, and Braden Avalon finished the game with two points.

MWP 14 9 14 8 --45

Mules 14 12 16 9 --51

On Saturday, the team traveled to Rainier and lost their first league game 56-50.

"We got out to a good lead, we were up seven at the half time," Coach Souvenir said. "In the third quarter we struggled to get the ball in the hole. [Rainier] got hot and hit some perimeter shots that got them back in the game. In the end it came down to them executing and us having a young team. It was a tough six point loss in their gym."

"I thought we did a lot of good things," Souvenir added. "We moved the ball really well, made the extra pass, we just couldn't get the buckets to drop when needed. We are a young team trying to build chemistry."

Brodie Avalon scored 20 points. Sause added 11 points. Carlson had eight points. Curl scored five points. Johnson had four points. Braden Avalon had two points.

Mules 12 17 8 13 --50

Rainier unavailable --56

On Monday, the Mules hosted Mabton and won 77-49.

"For three and a half quarters, the team came together," Coach Souvenir said. "I thought in that game, that's how we are hoping we can play through the rest of the season. I thought our guys played with as much enthusiasm as Mabton. Hopefully we won't lose what we built over Christmas break."

Brodie Avalon scored a career high 32 points and had 10 rebounds and five assists. Carlson added 17 points. Niemela contributed 12 points. Curl scored eight points. Nathan Garrett had three points. Johnson had two points and four assists. Grant Wilson added two points. Braden Avalon had one point and six rebounds.

Mabton 13 10 17 9 --49

Mules 23 17 22 15 --77

The Mules will return to play after the Christmas break, hosting Onalaska on Tuesday, January 4.