Behind a stifling defense, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team smothered visiting Chimacum 29-14 Friday, Jan. 22.

Coupeville blanked the Cowboys in the first quarter, didn’t allow a point until the 4:24 mark of the second period and didn’t surrender a second basket until midway through the third quarter.

The Cowboys also put together a stout defensive effort, but the Wolves were able to muster leads of 7-0 and 15-2 after the first two quarters.

Mia Littlejohn (seven) and Makana Stone (six) combined to score all but two of the Wolves’s first-half points.

After the break, Littlejohn sank two free throws and Kailey Kellner hit a hoop off a Lauren Grove assist to make it 19-2.

Then, after scoring only two points in the first 19 minutes and 23 seconds, Chimacum tallied six in a two-minute span in the third quarter. It wasn’t nearly enough, as Coupeville led 23-8 going into the final period.

“In the first half, we played really well defensively,” coach David King said.

He acknowledged the game would have been closer had the Cowboys taken advantage of their second-chance opportunities.

The Wolves’ half-court defense rarely allowed a quality shot; however, Chimacum dominated the offensive boards but couldn’t connect on put-backs.

A hectic week, King said, may have attributed to the Wolves’ uneven play. This was Coupeville’s third game in four days; the first two were on the road. It was also finals week at CHS.

Stone, who has recorded a double-double every game this season, added another with 12 points and 18 rebounds. She led the defense with seven blocks and four steals.

Littlejohn also had a strong all-around game with nine points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Kellner had four points and two assists, and Grove tallied four points.

“Mia stepped up and played well,” King said. “Lauren hit a couple of big jumpers.”

The Wolves (4-0, 10-4) remained in first place with the win; they host Chimacum (1-3, 4-11) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26.

(Kyla Briscoe, left, and Skyler Lawrence, bottom, look to shoot against Port Townsend. Photos by John Fisken.)