After going 13 years without winning a conference championship, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team wrapped up its second consecutive Olympic League title by winning 49-33 at Klahowya Friday, Jan. 29.
The victory gave the Wolves (6-0, 12-4) a three-game lead with three games left. Coupeville can clinch the title outright with a win at second-place Port Townsend (3-3, 6-10) at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2.
The Wolves go to Chimacum (1-5, 4-13) at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, and then close out the regular season at home against Klahowya at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.
Coupeville opens district tournament play at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at Sumner High School against a yet to be determined foe.
Because of the ferry schedule, Coupeville arrived at Klahowya two hours before game time. The extra time and the lack of a crowd may have contributed to the Wolves’ lethargic start, coach David King said.
“That gym has to be the quietest gym I’ve ever been at for a game,” King said. “It’s really tough for the players when it’s that quiet. You literally could hear a pin drop.”
Regardless, he club outscored the Eagles 15-10 in each of the first two quarters.
“Our offense was flat in the first quarter, but you couldn’t tell by the score,” King said. “We played more side-to-side instead of attacking the basket.
“We did have great ball movement for the whole game and got some greats shots up. We knocked down our open jumpers all game. We also did a good job of attacking the offensive boards for some put-backs.”
Makana Stone scored six points and Kailey Kellner five, including a three pointer, to get things going in the opening period. Stone added another seven points and Kellner another three-ball to pace the second-quarter attack.
“Our three captains (Stone, Kellner and Mia Littlejohn) led us in the half by knocking down some big baskets and making passes to open teammates,” King said.
With Stone adding nine more points, the Wolves went up 43-26 after three quarters.
“The start of the third was a whole different team,” Kind said. “Our movement on offense got better and our defensive effort really picked up.
“In the fourth we got a little sloppy but still maintained our composure. We were able to get the swing players in late and got them some court time.”
As the game progressed, King said, his team did what it needs to do to be successful: “Smart passes, moving the ball and passing up a shot to get it to a teammate that has a better shot opportunity.”
He added that the Wolves, as a team, attacked the basket, something they have been working on.
“For us to be successful, others need to shoot and not rely on Makana; tonight we did that.”
Stone had a monster game with 26 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks.
Kellner finished with eight points and two assists; Littlejohn had five points and four assists; Lindsey Roberts tallied four points; Tiffany Briscoe collected three points; Kyla Briscoe recorded three points and five rebounds; and Lauren Grove had four rebounds and five assists.
“We have three games to go before we get ready for the playoffs,” Kind said. “We came out and won the league championship for a second year in a row. The great thing about this young team, that isn’t so young anymore, they are hungry and aren’t finished yet. We still have work to do.”
