“It’s as good as we have ever played.”
That’s how Coupeville boys basketball coach Randy King described his team’s play in the decisive third quarter that led the Wolves to a 71-52 win over host Cedarcrest Friday.
The win helped the Wolves (6-2, 11-3) leapfrog over the Red Wolves (5-2, 8-5) into second place in the Cascade Conference. Coupeville now sits just one game behind first-place King’s (7-1, 10-4).
The Wolves, who handed the Knights their only league loss this year, go to King’s next Friday, Jan. 29.
Coach King said, “I would sure like to get one at their place.”
But before Coupeville heads to North Seattle for a first-place battle, it has to contend with always tough island rival South Whidbey Tuesday, Jan. 26, on the Falcons’ court.
Cedarcrest defeated the Wolves in Coupeville 53-49 earlier this month, and to not repeat that outcome, King knew the Wolves would have to slow down Cedarcrest’s 3-point shooters and handle its pressure defense.
Coupeville “crowded the shooters” this time around, according to King, and the Red Wolves sank six 3-pointers compared to eight in the first meeting.
The game started well for Coupeville as it scooted to a 13-point lead in the second quarter, but caved to the Red Wolves’ press – the same press that burned the Wolves in the team’s first meeting this year — late in the period. The turnovers allowed Cedarcrest to finish the half in a flurry and trim the lead to 33-29 by the break.
Then came the big third quarter. King said, “There were times in the game we were fantastic.” One of those times was the beginning of the second half when the Wolves started the quarter on a 17-0 run. King said, “We played great defense, and because they weren’t scoring, they couldn’t press.”
King added, “It was nice. We flat out clobbered them in the third quarter, and they are a good team.”
By the end of the quarter, Coupeville led 51-35, then put together a 20-point final period to put the finishing touches on the win.
King said, “Jason Bagby dominated the inside.” His domination included 22 points and 17 rebounds. The rebound total equaled what Cedarcrest gathered as a team; Coupeville destroyed the Red Wolves on the boards 41-17.
Hunter Hammer helped Bagby control the key for Coupeville with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
After two games of poor free throw shooting, the Wolves got back on track by hitting 22 of 28, including 10 of 14 in the final period to keep Cedarcrest from rallying. JD Wilcox, who got the Wolves off to a fast start in the game with six first-quarter points, finished the game 9-12 at the line and had 15 points. Ian Smith was 5-6 and Hammer 4-5 from the line to help the Wolves erase their recent foul-shooting woes.
Smith scored 13 points, Chad Brookhouse three and Erik King two.
Coach King said, “At this point of the season, it’s great to see us play this well.”
