The Coupeville High School boys basketball team put up its second highest point total of the season against  Archbishop Murphy Wednesday, Jan. 2, in Everett, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Wolves to a win.

The Wildcats more than matched the Wolves’ offensive effort by scoring the most points by a Coupeville opponent this winter for the 87-44 victory.

Archbishop Murphy (3-2, 4-4) led 17-9 after the first quarter then revved up its offensive machine to score 20 or more points in each of the next three periods, including 29 in the second for a 46-18 halftime lead.

Coupeville, which finished with 21 turnovers, was hurt by miscues in the second quarter, according to coach Anthony Smith.

He added, “Our transition defense wasn’t at its best.”

The Wolves scored in double figures in each quarter after halftime but couldn’t keep pace as Murphy led 66-32 at the end of the third period.

Aaron Trumbull had 10 points to pace Coupeville, while Nick Streubel had eight, Ben Etzell seven, Drew Chan four, Aaron Curtin four and Morgan Payne three.

Curtain added eight rebounds, Streubel seven and Trumbull five.

Smith said, “It was a better effort. The guys are starting to realize they need to work hard to be successful. We are slowly and surely changing the culture.”

Coupeville (0-5, 0-10) entertains Granite Falls (1-4, 5-6) at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4., and travels to first-place King’s (5-0, 7-3) Tuesday, Jan. 8.