Coupeville captures Tip Off Classic | Girls basketball

The Coupeville High School girls basketball team won the Friday Harbor Tip Off Classic Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5, and picked up a little revenge along the way.

The Coupeville High School girls basketball team won the Friday Harbor Tip Off Classic Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5, and picked up a little revenge along the way.

The Wolves defeated Overlake 37-20 Friday and then tripped South Whidbey 31-27 Saturday.

Coupeville lost to South Whidbey 32-30 earlier in the week.

The Wolves (2-1) now head to Mount Baker to face the unbeaten Mountaineers (3-0) at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7.

In the Overlake win, Coupeville received two early buckets by Makana Stone on assists from Kailey Kellner and never trailed.

“We came out fired up and ready to play,” coach David King said. “I liked our defensive intensity the first and second quarters; we were able to get some steals and fast breaks.”

The Owls used a spurt at the end of the opening period to narrow the gap to 11-10, but the Wolves pulled away by outscoring Overlake 11-2 in the second quarter.

Stone scored seven points in the first quarter and eight in the second to help build the 22-12 halftime lead, then tacked on eight more points in the third period as the Wolves went into the final quarter leading 30-15.

The cushion allowed coach David King to sit three starters (Stone, Kellner and Mia Littlejohn) the entire fourth quarter.

“One thing about this team, they all want each other to succeed and play well,” King said. “Makana, Mia and Kailey all were vocal and cheering on their teammates. Each player on the court for us in the fourth didn’t let up.”

Allison Wenzel, in her varsity debut, scored five points in the fourth quarter, including draining a three-ball.

Stone scored 21 point in three quarters, Littlejohn added five, Tiffany Briscoe three, Kellner two and Lauren Grove one.

Stone also had 16 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

Kellner registered a team-high three assists, and Briscoe had four rebounds and three steals.

“After the South Whidbey game (Wednesday), we talked about being more patient on offense,” King said. “We practiced that very well Thursday night and came out today and moved the ball very well. This was probably our best game in the three-plus years of coaching varsity that we didn’t rush our offense and played at the tempo we wanted to play at.

Overall it was a complete game with each player contributing.”

The win over South Whidbey came with some adjustments on defense after the earlier loss, according to King.

That, coupled with another patient offensive effort, carried the Wolves to the win.

A jumper by Stone, a three-ball from Kellner and two hoops by Grove helped the Wolves got off to a 9-1 start and a 14-5 first-quarter lead.

The Falcons connected on only two field goals in the first half, but did hit seven of nine foul shots to stay in the game.

Stone scored Coupeville’s only points, four, in the second quarter and the Wolves led 18-11 at the break.

The Falcons doubled their score in the third quarter, trimming the gap to 25-22, but the Wolves held the advantage with the help of a Littlejohn three-pointer.

Both teams went scoreless for the first half of the final period, then Littlejohn struck from long distance again, Kellner scored and Briscoe added a free throw to finish the scoring.

The defense, led by Briscoe, did the rest, King said.

“We are still a work in progress on offense, still learning how to be patient and play to our tempo,” King said. “But this weekend we showed glimpses of how good we can be when we are patient.”

Everyone contributed on defense, King said, but Briscoe was the key.

“She isn’t the tallest post player, but the desire and hard work she brings every day is second to none,” King said. “Even though she was undersized today she played tough defense and was on the floor whenever there was a loose ball near her. Yes, we need to score the ball to win, but without the effort from Tiffany today we probably don’t win.”

King also liked the defensive effort of freshman Lindsey Roberts.

“She is still learning how good she can be. We have even talked about her becoming a shut-down defender.”

Stone finished with her third consecutive double-double, getting 10 points and 10 rebounds, along with five steals, five blocks and two assists.

Kellner had seven points, three rebounds and three steals; Littlejohn added six points and three steals.

Grave ended with four points and six rebounds, Briscoe had three points and six rebounds, and Roberts scored one point and grabbed five boards.