Once the Coupeville High School girls basketball team solved the puzzle presented by La Conner’s defense, the Wolves’ raced back into the game for a 39-38 win over the visiting Braves Wednesday, Dec. 30.

La Conner ran a version of the box-and-one defense, manning up on Makana Stone and running a zone with its four other players.

It worked for a while. Stone, who averages about 20 points per game, had only one shot in the first quarter, and that was a desperation toss as the shot clock ran down during one possession.

With Stone in check, the Braves went up 10-4 after one quarter.

Coupeville’s Kailey Kellner opened the game with a three-ball from the corner and two minutes later dropped in a free throw. The Wolves then went nearly seven minutes without scoring and La Conner took a 13-4 lead.

Stone then took off, scoring 11 points in the second period. Her three-point play with 1:37 left in the half tied the score at 22.

She added another bucket after two free throws by Mia Littlejohn, and the Wolves led 26-22 at the break.

Kellner, with five points, and Lindsey Roberts, with four, helped during the second-quarter surge.

Assists by Lauren Grove and Littlejohn led to two hoops by Stone to start the second half. Tiffany Briscoe finished the quarter with two foul shots, and Coupeville led 32-27 going into the final eight minutes.

Behind two treys by Nakiya Edwards, the Braves rallied to go up 36-35 with 1:45 left.

Stone, on another assist from Littlejohn, put the Wolves ahead, but Kamea Pino countered for La Conner, giving the Braves a 38-37 lead with 1:10 remaining.

The Wolves suffered a turnover but regained possession on a jump ball. Stone split the Braves’ full court press to hit the game winner with 29 seconds left.

La Conner (5-3) had two shots as the clock ran down but couldn’t convert.

“In the second quarter, we showed we could be a team,” Coupeville coach David King said. “Mia did a much better job setting the tempo, getting us running and getting us some good looks.”

Littlejohn finished the game with five assists and two points.

Stone collected 22 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Kellner had nine points and three rebounds; Roberts registered four points and three rebounds; and Briscoe added two points and seven rebounds.

Only three La Conner players scored, led by Edwards, who hit seven three-pointers, with 22.

Coupeville (6-2), winners of four straight, head to Port Townsend (2-6) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, for an Olympic League game.

(Coupeville’s Lauren Grove checks out the La Conner defense. Photo by John Fisken.)