Bellevue Christian pulled away in the second half to defeat the Coupeville High School boys basketball team 64-45 Thursday, Feb. 11, in the District 3 1A Tournament play-in game.
The loss ended the Wolves’ (9-11) season. Bellevue Christian (9-10) moves on to face Cascade Christian in the first round of the district tournament Saturday.
After a strong first half, things fell apart for the Wolves after the break.
Coupeville senior Wiley Hesselgrave scored the first points of the third quarter, giving the Wolves a 29-27 lead. Bellevue Christian then took off on a 14-0 run fueled by Coupeville mistakes. Ten of the points followed Coupeville turnovers; nine of the points were scored by Joe Lampkin.
The Vikings finished the third quarter with a 43-33 lead and put the game away with a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter.
The Wolves couldn’t contain Lampkin, the Vikings’ 6-for-6 post. Lampkin finished with 26 points, thanks to a handful of assists from Dave Postma.
“We weren’t as aggressive in the second half,” Coupeville coach Anthony Smith said. “We got a little passive, and it cost us.
“(Bellevue Christian) was patient enough to get (Lampkin) the ball inside.”
Things went the Wolves’ way early. Hesselgrave scored seven points and Coupeville led 15-9 with two minutes left in the first period.
With Lampkin scoring eight points, BC went on a 15-2 run that spanned the first and second quarters and led 24-17 midway through the second period.
Sophomore Hunter Smith scored eight consecutive points in just over two minutes to get Coupeville back into the game at halftime.
Smith led Coupeville with 14 points, Hesselgrave had nine, senior J.J. Johnson eight, senior Risen Johnson four, junior Gabe Wynn four, senior Jordan Ford two, senior Jared Helmstadter two and senior Dante Mitchell two.
One positive for the Wolves was their free throw shooting; they went 10-for-10 at the line. The Vikings were 4-for-12.
“I am disappointed for the seniors,” coach Smith said. “They put in a lot of time, a lot of hard work, a lot of long road trips, a lot of open gyms. It will be tough not seeing these guys tomorrow.”
(Left: Jordan Ford scores for the Wolves.
Below: Wiley Hesselgrave attacks the hoop.
Photos by John Fisken.)
