Editor,

I would like to start by saying congratulations to the Coupeville girls basketball team on a great, hard-fought season. These girls grew as a team, friends and wonderful people.

On Wednesday night, they faced their island rivals, South Whidbey, in an elimination game for regionals.

Now for the gist of this letter, for three-plus quarters, the lady Wolves had the lead and all but three players saw the court. As the game slipped away in the second half of the fourth quarter, the Falcons, up by 7 and then 9 points with less than a minute to play, Coach David King elected to play sophomores and juniors. He let two seniors sit on the bench to finish out their career as hard working teammates without so much of a second of playing time.

I ask you, “coach” King, if cheating girls out of their last hurrah is your coaching style, when the game is out of reach, what is more important, wins and losses or a young lady’s final memory of her last high school basketball game?

I sure hope some other girl doesn’t have to experience this under your reign. Our girls are tough, they will learn, and grow from this experience, I hope you do too.

In parting, all I have to say is you owe them an apology and from me personally, c’mon man.

Steve Kiel

Coupeville