A potential game-winning shot at the buzzer was a tick too late and the Coupeville girls fell to host Granite Falls 32-30 Tuesday.

Down by two with 7.6 seconds left, Coupeville coach Blake Severns called timeout. Ashley Manker missed a shot from the block. On the rebound the ball was batted around until Manker regained control and hit a shot five feet beyond the 3-point line as the buzzer sounded.

The officials conferred and ruled the shot came after the clock had run out and denied the Wolves the game-winning bucket.

Severns said, “I’ve watched a replay of the last shot over 10 times, and I’m still not sure if Ashley got it off in time. It was a very tough call and I’m glad I didn’t have to make it. Both Mark Neuman (the Granite coach) and myself agree the call could have gone either way and neither of us could have complained, it was that close of a call.”

While the end of the game was tough on Coupeville, the beginning was as nearly as rough. Granite Falls (4-6, 5-11) ran to a 12-0 lead and the Wolves didn’t score until the final minute of the first quarter.

Severns said Katie Smith came off the bench to give his club a spark and the Wolves cut into the Tiger lead and trailed 20-13 at the half.

Severns said, “Katie Smith really stepped up for the second game in a row and provided a lot of energy and hustle. She led us in rebounds and nabbed a lot of

loose balls throughout the game.”

The Wolves eventually got within two, 26-24, midway through the final period before Granite Falls upped the margin to 30-24.

With the help of a Kendra O’Keefe three, the Wolves were able to finally tie the score at 30 with just under a minute left.

Payton Spencer, who had a game-high 16 points, put Granite Falls in the lead with 30 seconds left and set up the wild finish.

Severns said, “After the poor start the girls did a great job defensively the rest of the game.”

He added that the Wolves struggled offensively: “We had a lot of open looks that just wouldn’t fall for most of the game. The girls were taking good shots but they just wouldn’t fall.”

Coupeville was led in scoring by Megan Smith with nine points. O’Keefe finished with eight, Katie Smith six, Manker five and Marie Hesselgrave two.

The Wolves (5-6, 10-7) host Archbishop Murphy Friday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m.

A video clip of Coupeville’s game at King’s Jan. 29 can be found on the Seattle Times Web site in the high school sports blog. Go to Seattletimes.com, click on sports, then click on high school sports and look for the high school blog.