CATHLAMET — Wahkiakum showed its still a power to be feared in the Central 2B League as the Mules delivered a 61-29 beating to Winlock at home on Monday.
Wahkiakum jumped out to a 19-4 lead after a quarter of play. Of those, 12 points came in transition, off 11 Winlock turnovers. Even when the Cardinals put the ball in the basket, as often as not a quick pass over the top beat them down the floor for an easy layup.
The Cardinals finished with 29 turnovers on the night, and Wahkiakum scored 21 transition points, despite laying off its toughest presses after the opening minutes of the first. Megan Leitz led the Mules with seven steals; four of the five Wahkiakum starters had at least two.
“For us right now, I think it affected our confidence, their pressure, their press, and their defense,” first-year Winlock coach Dracy McCoy said. “We’re just not playing with as much confidence as I’d like us to be playing with right now. That’s a huge factor when someone pressures us like that.”
Even when Winlock did get the ball up the court, Wahkiakum made life difficult for its guests. Reigha Niemeyer drew the tall task of guarding Addison Hall, but she had help from her teammates every possession, forcing the Cardinals’ leading scorer to get the ball far away from the basket, give it up quickly, and not get it back.
Hall still scored more than half of her side’s points with a team-high 13, but went 4 for 14 from the field.
“Reigha did a great job on Addison,” Wahkiakum coach Rob Garrett said. “She seemed pretty flustered and frustrated. She’s a great kid, but unfortunately that’s our goal when you’re the best player on the other team, is to do that to you.
Behind Hall, Kindyl Kelly had eight points for Winlock. Madison Vigre led the visitors with 11 rebounds, while Pe Ell's Charlie Carper had 10 boards.
Winlock (5-5) was set to get a quick turnaround, hosting Morton-White Pass on Tuesday.
