It doesn’t get more frustrating for a team than the fourth quarter of Coupeville’s season opener on Tuesday night.
Every time the Wolves came up with a clutch shot against South Whidbey, the Falcons had an answer, holding off CHS for a 57-53 victory.
With both teams tied 40-40 going into the fourth, South Whidbey went up by one on a free throw from Caitie Newman 37 seconds into final quarter.
They never trailed after the free throw.
Coupeville pulled to within one point on three separate occasions, but couldn’t get over the hump.
The Wolves’ biggest heartbreaker came with 2:00 left in the contest. After trailing by seven, 51-44, with three minutes to go, Coupeville went on a 6-0 run behind back-to-back three pointers from seniors Whitney Clark and Taniel Lamb.
With ice in her veins, South Whidbey guard Jessi Eaton answered the CHS run, nailing a three-pointer 30 seconds after the Wolves pulled to within one. It was Eaton’s only made basket off the night.
Falcon guard Danielle Burton connected on a similar shot around the four-minute mark when Coupeville was also down by one. Eaton and Burton’s shots were the only two three-point baskets made by South Whidbey the entire game.
“Their (three-point) shots were ugly in the first half, but they were shooting it with confidence and I knew it was just a matter of time before they hit a couple,” CHS head coach Greg Oldham said. “A shooter doesn’t shoot the ball that way unless she’s made a few of them.”
Down 56-53 with 11 seconds to go Coupeville one more chance to tie the game, but turned the ball over on an interior pass to 6-foot-2 post Lexie Black.
“We were looking for the first good shot — a three would be great, but we were willing to take a two and foul if the two came quickly,” Oldham said.
Coupeville jumped out of the gate early against South Whidbey, taking its largest lead of seven, 10-3, with 4:10 to go in the first quarter.
South Whidbey battled back to take a one-point lead after the first quarter and the contest remained a back-and-forth affair the entire time.
Lexie Black led all scorers Tuesday, putting up 21 points, eight rebounds and eight blocked shots. Black had to sit out the entire second quarter, however, due to foul trouble.
“We like to have her on the floor, but we needed her at the end so she sat the entire quarter,” Oldham said.
Lamb and Clark added nine points apiece for Coupeville, while Brittany Black pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds.
Coupeville’s major concern came from turnovers. The Wolves committed 26 on the night, opposed to the 17 of the Falcons. Despite the miscues handling the ball, Oldham was pleased with what he saw.
“We were able to put up some points, we were able to run — I thought the transition looked good — all in all it was a good start,” he said.
South Whidbey was led by Newman with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Britta Madison added 12 points, followed by Burton with 10.
Coupeville (0-1) plays its next game at 4 p.m., today Dec. 4 at home against non-league Seattle Christian. Junior varsity tips off the action at 2 p.m. in the large gym.
South Whidbey 13 14 13 17—57
Coupeville 12 17 11 13—53
Scoring: Coupeville — L. Black 21, Lamb 9, Clark 9, Davis 8, B. Black 4, Jenkins 2. South Whidbey — Newman 18, Madison 12, Burton 10, Roberts 8, Eaton 3, Dumke 2, LaVassar 2, Mydynski 2.
