Unable to shake off the rust of not playing in 16 days, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team lost 51-35 at home to Cedar Park Christian Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The Eagles (3-0, 9-4) remained in first place in the North Sound Conference with the win, while the Wolves (1-1, 6-3) suffered their first league loss.
“Our 16-day Christmas layoff caught up with us last night,” Coupeville coach Scott Fox said. “We came out flat and could never recover. They played well and really took advantage of our mistakes.”
Cedar Park Christian stung the Wolves with four three-pointers in the first quarter to go up 19-9.
Irena Korolenko, who was the league’s most valuable player last year, scored 7 points in the second quarter as the Eagles built a 32-16 half-time lead. Olivia Decker added 7 points in the third period and CPC led 46-28.
Korolenko scored more than half of the Eagles’ points in last year’s two games between the two schools when she racked up 25 in each. The Wolves limited her to 12 Tuesday. She sank two three-pointers in the first half and made all six of her free-throw attempts.
However, Korolenko, who has committed to play for Seattle University next year, hurt the Wolves with her passing, according to Fox.
Decker also scored 12 points for the Eagles.
Chelsea Prescott led the Wolves with 12 points, including going 8-for-10 from the foul line. Her teammates combined to make only five of 23 from the stripe.
Hannah Davidson and Avalon Renninger backed Prescott with 6 points each, while Scout Smith, Maddie Georges and Izzy Wells tallied 3 each. Tia Wurzrainer added 2.
Hannah Davidson, left, tries to fight her way to the basket. (Photo by John Fisken)
Chelsea Prescott fights a crowd for a rebound. (Photo by John Fisken)
Avalon Renninger fires up a jumper. (Photo by John Fisken)
Audrianna Shaw defends Cedar Park Christian’s Skye Bonner (10). (Photo by John Fisken)
Scout Smith launches a three-point shot for Coupeville. (Photo by John Fisken)
