The Wahkiakum Mule basketball team posed with their fourth place trophy last Saturday at the state Class 2B Boys Basketball Tournament. Photo by Steve McClain. Click photo for larger version. The Wahkiakum Mule basketball team claimed fourth place at the Class 2B Boys Basketball Tournament in Spokane.

The Mules opened with a close 51-47 win over the St. George's Dragons on Wednesday. That pitted them in the quarterfinals against the undefeated Toutle Lake Ducks who had handily defeated the Mules in Central League and Southwest District play. The Mules took control of the game and led until the final minutes when the Ducks scooted ahead and held on at the free throw line to win 56-51.

The Mules followed with a 63-33 throttling of the Lind-Ritzville Broncos in an elimination game on Friday. On Saturday, the Mules took on the Darrington Loggers and used good defense to pound out a 67-49 win.

The team kept the tradition alive: They were the 13th Mule boys team to compete in the state B tournament, and each has brought home a trophy.

Seniors on the team are Kyle Benson, Josh Rongey, Chris Diaz, Ross Lofstrom, Drew Windsor, Hayden Miles, Bobby Helms and Tyler Benson.

Sophomore guard Cody Olsen, son of Mule Coach Bill Olsen, was named to the All-tournament First team by the Spokesman Review newspaper.

Olsen's 16 points leads Mules to upset of No. 5 St. George's

Wahkiakum 51, St. George 47.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Cody Olsen scored 16 points as Wahkiakum knocked off fifth-ranked St. George's 51- 47 in Wednesday night's opening round of the state Class 2B tournament.

St. George's led 26-23 at the half, but turnovers early in the second half by the Dragons gave the lead back to Wahkiakum. St. George's trailed by 1 with a minute remaining but could not convert on two open shots inside the paint. Wahkiakum scored on the next possession and then Kyle Benson, making his first appearance since breaking a hand in December, made two free throws to end the game.

Turnovers plagued both teams, but Wahkiakum (16-5) managed to take care of the basketball late.

Besides Olsen's 16 points, Bobby Helms had 13 and Hayden Miles 10 for the Mules.

Henry Butler scored 17 points for St. George's (18-3).

Toutle Lake remains undefeated, beats Wahkiakum

Toutle Lake 56, Wahkiakum 51.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Brandon Bartlett scored 15 points and Toutle Lake remained undefeated, beating Wahkiakum 56-51 on Thursday in the state Class 2B boys quarterfinals.

Bobby Breece added 11 points as Toutle Lake improved to 22-0 and advanced to the semifinals against Riverside Christian on Friday.

Cody Olsen scored 14 points for Wahkiakum, which dropped to 16-6.

The teams changed leads 11 times throughout the game. Toutle Lake senior Jeston Harris scored all of his 10 points in the fourth quarter, as Toutle Lake held off its league rival.

Mules rout Broncos

Wahkiakum 63, Lind-RItzville 33

The Mules blew through the Lind-Ritzville Broncos to reach the trophy game on Saturday.

The Mules jumped to a 22-5 first quarter lead and increased that to 35-12 at halftime as the Broncos never could handle the Mules defensive pressure or put up a defense that would slow the Mules' balanced attack.

Cody Olsen put in 19 points; Tyler Benson had 13, and Josh Rongey 10.

Wahkiakum races past Darrington 67-49 to finish fourth

Wahkiakum 67, Darrington 49.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Hayden Miles scored 23 points as Wahkiakum beat Darrington 67-49 on Saturday to take fourth in the Class 2B boys state tournament.

Senior Josh Rongey added 12 points and six assists for the Mules, who finished at 18-6. Cody Olsen also scored 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting for Wahkiakum.

Mike Parris scored 12 points for Darrington, which dropped to 17-6. The Loggers finished seventh.

The Mules led only 13-10 after one quarter. The defense took control in the second when Miles scored his first eight points. The Mules outscored the Loggers 21-13 in the period and led 34-23 at halftime. A 16-10 advantage in the third quarter put the game firmly in their control.

The Mules led in steals 9-2 in the game; the Loggers led in turnovers 15-8.Bobby Helms had two steals for the Mules and held Darrington's leading scorer to 12 points.