“It was about as upbeat an experience as losing can be.The Coupeville girls basketball team hosted Sequim Wednesday and lost a squeaker, 47-45.Considering that Coupeville plays in the Northwest A League, and Sequim plays at the 3A level; considering that point guard Ashley Ellsworth-Bagby was out with an illness; considering that starters Yashmeen Knox and Tina Lyness sat much of the second half with foul trouble — considering all that, losing wasn’t so bad.“This was a great game for us,” Coupeville coach Willie Smith said. “A lot of players had to step up and contribute. I hate to lose to Sequim, but we did a great job.”The leading scorer for the Wolves was senior Jamie Rasmussen, who poured in 15 points. Rasmussen sparked Coupeville to an early early lead with several baskets inside, then ignited a second quarter surge when freshman Brianne King stole the ball and hit Rasmussen for a breakaway layup.Two consecutive Emily Young jumpers made it 21-15, Coupeville, and the Wolves maintained a 23-18 lead at the half.Sequim’s freshman Megan Thompson (20 points) got her team going in the third quarter, and Coupeville started the second half cool. The Wolves managed only two points in five minutes, and Sequim grabbed a 28-25 lead.King, who scored 7 points in her varsity debut, broke the dry spell with a jumper, and Rasmussen and Tracy Taylor (6 points) added layups for a 31-28 lead at the end of the third quarter.Sequim battled back, and the two teams were locked in a 39-39 tie with 2:02 left to play. The inside play of 6-foot Susan Virgin and the shooting of Thompson staked Sequim to a 45-41 lead with 40 seconds left.A King jumper made it 45-43, and a Coupeville defensive stop gave the Wolves a chance to tie with 25 second on the clock, but Knox’s pass to Taylor slipped through the sophomore’s hand and out of bounds.Sequim sealed the win with two free throws. Rasmussen added one more basket for the final score.Smith said he was happy with the way his team handled Sequim’s pressing defense, and especially pleased with the play of Taylor. “Tracy was huge,” he said.SEQUIM 47, COUPEVILLE 45Sequim 9 9 10 19 — 47Coupeville 11 12 8 14 — 45Sequim: Thompson 20, Virgin 11, Gillissen 8, Thornton 7, Hooker. Coupeville: Rasmussen 15, King 7, Lyness 6, Taylor 6, Knox 6, Young 5. JV score: Coupeville 38, Sequim 33.”