Putting the finishing touches on its first conference title in 13 years, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team won 53-36 at Klahowya Monday, Feb. 9.

The Wolves wrapped up the league schedule with a perfect 9-0 mark (15-5 overall). Next up is the district tournament where Coupeville will meet the winner of Chimacum and the Nisqually League No. 2 seed (Seattle Christian or Bellevue Christian) at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at Sumner High School.

Win or lose, the Wolves will play again Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Sumner.

Two straight wins will put Coupeville in the regional tournament.

If the Wolves split their first two games, they will play at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Foss High School for a regional berth.

Klahowya started Monday’s game in a box-and-one defense on Coupeville’s leading scorer Makana Stone. Midway through the opening period, Stone picked up her second foul, which sent her to the bench.

Those elements helped give the opening period a strange feel, Coupeville coach David King said, but the Wolves, even with Stone going scoreless, put up 17 points.

Kacie Kiel popped in six points, Hailey Hammer and Julia Myers four each and Madeline Strasburg a three-ball to get the offense going after a slow start.

Klahowya scored nine in the period.

Kiel, King said, “really had one of her better games tonight, and she stepped up offensively when we needed someone to do that.

“I’ll take 17 in a quarter with how slow we seemed to be moving and having Makana on the bench for so long.”

In the second quarter, the Eagles scored several quick hoops to cut into the lead, then the Wolves’ defense stiffened and limited Klahowya to only six points in the period.

Kiel added four points, four others hit a hoop and Coupeville led 29-15 at halftime.

“Coming out at halftime, we knew we couldn’t play the way we had in the first half — lethargic on offense and defense, almost emotionless,” King said. “We came out with a focus to our game we hadn’t really seen in the first half. We started communicating more on defense and our defense got better. The improved effort on defense gave us some fast break opportunities that kept Klahowya at bay despite the 13 they put on the scoreboard.”

Myers scored six points in the quarter, Strasburg drained another three-ball and the Wolves led 46-28.

“Kacie really stepped up along with Hailey Hammer tonight with Makana having an off night,” King said. “Like we have all season long, players are stepping up and making a difference when we need them to.

“One player that hasn’t gotten a lot of time is McKenzie Bailey. But whenever she is called on, she is ready. Tonight when she got in the game, the first time she touched the ball, she made a great entry pass into the post for an assist. A few players later she was involved in setting up another score.”

Although his team sometimes struggles with execution, King said, it has “many offensive weapons.”

“The great thing is, we didn’t play well and we still had two quarters of 17, another with 12.

“I’m always looking for the players to play hard and play with passion. These players from top to bottom do this. I’m proud of the regular season we have had. Now the fun begins with preparing for districts and seeing how we stack up against other teams.”

Myers led the Wolves with 12 points, and Kiel and Stone finished with 10, Hammer nine, Strasburg six, Mia Littlejohn four and Wynter Thorne two.

The Wolves were tough on the boards with Stone grabbing 12 rebounds, Hammer 10, Myers seven and Kiel six.

Kiel rounded out a fine night with three assists and two steals.

Strasburg dished six assists, while Myers had three blocks and Hammer and Stone two each.