Coupeville got off to a good start, albeit a slow one compared to what transpired as the game progressed, in Tuesday’s Cascade Conference basketball game against island rival South Whidbey High School.

The Wolves took a 14-7 lead after the first quarter of play and stretched the margin to 29-18 at halftime.

In the second half of action both teams lit up the net scoring a combined total of 87 points, but Coupeville made the early lead stand up and downed the Falcons 73-61.

The win was the Wolf Pack’s fourth straight league victory and upped the team’s record to 5-3 in the conference and 8-6 overall.

“We played so well for that stretch in the third quarter,” coach Randy King said. “Then we sat back a little and they got after us with the press.”

Coupeville’s balanced scoring attack was the difference in the game and the Wolves had five players hit for double figures.

Cody Peters scored 16 points and Hunter Hammer had 15.

Zepher Loesch, in his first game back after sitting out since early December with a hand injury, tallied 13 points, J.D. Wilcox hit for 12 points and Jason Bagby rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points.

“It was a team effort tonight and we got it there. It’s good to be back,” Loesch said.

King said he was happy to have the senior in the lineup.

“Zepher made a difference, he gave us some stability with the ball handling,” King said.

Riley Newman scored a game-high 20 points to pace South Whidbey and teammate Scott Stallman had 11 points.

“I thought we played well for the most part,” King said. “We had to make some adjustments and figure out who that Riley Newman was. He kept burying threes on us.”

Jeff Brasko and Cole Erickson tallied nine points each for the Falcons 2-3 league, 7-4 overall.

“I expect it’s going to be another war Saturday night and we’ll have to be ready to go again,” King said.

Coupeville and South Whidbey meet again tonight on the Falcons’ home court.Tipoff time is 7 p.m.