A comeback 64-60 victory over visiting Klahowya Friday, Jan. 29, cemented a postseason berth for the Coupeville High School boys basketball team.

With three Olympic League games left, the Wolves could finish anywhere from first to third in the final standings; the top three teams advance to the district tournament.

Coupeville (3-3, 8-8) is currently in third place, trailing Port Townsend (5-1, 7-10) and Chimacum (4-2, 6-11). Klahowya (0-6, 1-17) sits in fourth.

The first-place team goes directly to the double-elimination portion of the tournament and will have two chances to win one game and move on to the regional tournament.

The third-place team will need to win two loser-out games and the second-place team one to reach the semifinals and the double-elimination portion of the district tournament.

Coupeville will begin its final charge for a better district seed when it hosts Port Townsend at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2. The Wolves finish the regular season with two road games, going to Chimacum at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, and to Klahowya at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.

Klahowya, knowing it needed to win last Friday’s game to keep its postseason dreams afloat, nearly upset the Wolves  in an emotionally charged game.

Coupeville’s defense made several keys plays in the final two minutes and the offense produced the game’s final eight points to pull out the win.

A three-point bucket by Sawyer Snope gave Klahowya a 60-56 lead with 1:51 left in the game.

Wiley Hesselgrave scored for Coupeville to make it 60-58, then the defense forced a turnover 20 second later.

After two Coupeville misses, J.J. Johnson scooped up an offensive rebound and scored to tie the game, 60-60, at the 1:06 mark.

The Wolves then smothered the Eagles and forced a shot-clock violation.

Hesselgrave attacked the rim and was fouled with 18 seconds remaining. Up to this point, the senior struggled at the foul line, sinking only one of five. Hesselgrave cooly hit both to give the Wolves the lead.

Again, the defense made a huge play; this time Johnson took a charge with 10 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing possession, Johnson was fouled. He connected on both free throws, locking up the win.

It was fitting that Johnson finish the scoring; he came off the bench to provide the spark that got the offense going earlier in the game.

The first-quarter was foul-filled. The teams combined for 12 infractions (eight on the Eagles) and 17 free throws.

Coupeville hit only six of 11 and trailed 14-9 at the end of the period.

The Wolves’ only field goal in the opening quarter came from Gabe Wynn, and, naturally, it was followed by a free throw as Wynn completed a three-point play.

Two three-pointers by Johnson and another by Hesselgrave in the second period evened the score at 18.

Johnson finished the quarter with 10 points, Hesselgrave added seven and Coupeville led 31-27 at halftime.

Coupeville missed five consecutive free throws in the final 2:24 of the third quarter, and the Eagles went ahead 45-43 going into the fourth period.

If the Wolves had lost the game, they could have pointed to the foul line for a primary reason. Johnson was 6-for-6, but the remainder of the team went 11-for-23.

Hesselgrave tallied a game-high 20 points, and Johnson had a season-high 19.

Risen Johnson added eight; Jordan Ford, who missed much of the game in foul trouble, had six; Hunter Smith five; Wynn three; and DeAndre Mitchell two.

Payton Ryen, who followed out with 2:54 left in the game, led the Eagles with 16 points.

(Jordan Ford heads up court in Friday’s game. Photo by John Fisken.)