The Coupeville girls basketball team will put its season on the line Saturday, Feb. 20, against a family foe, King’s.
The Wolves and Knights will square off at 4:15 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School. The winner will advance to next week’s tri-district tournament at Mountlake Terrace High School. The loser’s season will be over.
Coupeville dropped into the loser-out game with King’s when it was thumped 74-35 at Lynden Christian Friday night.
The Lyncs will play Nooksack Valley Saturday at 7:45 at Mount Vernon. Both will advance to tri-district, but the winner will automatically qualify for the state tournament regardless of what happens at tri-district.
Nooksack defeated King’s 39-32 Friday to set up its match with Lynden Christian.
Although King’s (9-5, 12-10) finished ahead of Coupeville (6-8, 12-10) in the final Cascade Conference standings, the Wolves defeated the Knights in both meetings this season.
Lynden Christian (19-2) moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in the state 1A poll this week, and it showed why it holds that ranking in its romp over Coupeville.
The Lyncs, looking for their 10th state championship, performed like a titlist by shooting 64 percent (32-50) against Coupeville. The taller Lyncs also out-rebounded the Wolves 38-13, 11-5 on the offensive boards.
With the score tied at 6-6 with 4:43 left in the first quarter, LC exploded on a 12-0 run to finish the quarter ahead, 18-6.
The lead hung around 10 all through the second quarter until the Lyncs’ Jordan Biehle hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to make it 33-20.
Biehle, who came into the game averaging seven points a contest, was red-hot. She hit eight of 10 field goal attempts, including a perfect four-for-four from 3-point range, to take game scoring honors with 20 points – all coming in three quarters of play.
Biehle also fueled the Lyncs’ big third quarter, netting 10 points as Lynden Christian outscored the Wolves 24-8 to head into the final period up 57-28.
With the game decided, both coaches emptied their benches at the beginning of the fourth period to give reserves some playing time and to rest starters for Saturday’s games.
Megan Smith scored 12 points for Coupeville, and Ashley Manker had eight.
Katie Smith added four; Lauren Escalle three; and Cassidi Rosenkrance, Kendra O’Keefe, Taya Boonstra and Bessie Walstad two each.
Coupeville coach Blake Severns said, “I thought we played really well the first half.” He added, “They are a really good team; they take advantage of every mistake you make.”
