The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The Wahkiakum Lady Mules sustained a loss to undefeated Napavine last week but stayed alive in the Class 2B girls district tournament with a win over Pe Ell on Saturday.

They faced Northwest Christian last night (Wednesday) after The Eagle went to press. The season ended for the loser of that game; the winner plays today (Thursday), 6:30 p.m., at Centralia High School. The winner of that game qualifies for the state tournament and will play 1 p.m. next Saturday at Centralia for third and fourth places in district.

The top ranked Tigers corralled the Mules to give them a 51-31 loss February 19. The Tigers led 16-5 after one quarter and 27-17 at halftime.

"We played great team defense," said Mule Coach Tiffany Niemeyer. "We just couldn't run an offense.

"Napavine has great pressure defense, and this frustrated our girls . . . We definitely struggled offensively tonight. We just couldn't convert on the offensive end! We also got in some foul trouble early, and that hurt us."

Evelyn Clark led the Mule scoring with 12 points. Jordyn Wirkkala had seven, Brieanna Olsen five, Shelby Deaton four and Rebecka Patching three. Deaton had 10 rebounds; Wirkkala and Clark each had six, and Blaine Land had four.

The Mules made 11 of 35 shots, 31 percent, and seven of 12 free throws, 58 percent. The Tigers hit 19 of 61 shots, 31 percent, and 11 of 21 free throws, 52 percent.

The loss to Napavine left the Lady Mules hungry and ready to push past the game, Niemeyer said. They met the Pe Ell Trojans Saturday night and used defensive pressure of their own to grind out a 43-25 win.

The Mules led 8-6 after one quarter and 23-19 at halftime. They shut down the Trojans in the third quarter, outscoring them 9-2 and in the fourth quarter, 11-4.

Clark scored 15 points, Deaton and Wirkkala each had 10; Olsen six and Shelby Felton one.

Deaton grabbed 13 rebounds. Clark had six rebounds and five steals, and Wirkkala had three steals