Boys Basketball

The lack of experience of the Oak Harbor and Coupeville boys basketball teams was evident in the teams’ season-opening lopsided losses Tuesday.

Both Whidbey Island teams return only two members from last year’s varsity squads, and both struggled against pressure defenses as Oak Harbor lost 64-31 at Monroe and Coupeville fell 72-28 at home to Blaine.

Monroe zips to early lead over Wildcats

Monroe, unlike Oak Harbor, put a veteran team on the court, including four returning regulars. The Bearcats jumped all over Oak Harbor from the outset, outscoring the Wildcats 19-5 in the first quarter.

“We definitely looked like a young team, with a bunch of guys who were playing in their first varsity game,” coach John Weston said.

Monroe built a 35-11 halftime lead, then the Wildcats outscored the Bearcats 10-9 in the third quarter.

“We played a much better second half and the guys were able to make adjustments.”

Weston lauded the play of his two returnees, Adam Nelson and Malcolm Jackson: “Adam was aggressive and showed some leadership. Their big guy, (Colby) Kyle, is quite a player, and I thought Malcolm did a good job slowing him down.”

Nelson topped Oak Harbor in scoring with 8 points. Jackson and JJ Mitchell had 6 each; Ty Baker and Haven Brown added 4 apiece; and Weston Whitefoot netted 3.

Oak Harbor (0-1) plays its home opener at 7:15 Saturday, Dec. 3, against Mount Baker (1-0).

Baine turns Coupeville mistakes into points

Blaine outscored Coupeville 49-11 in the middle periods thanks to multiple scoring opportunities produced by its full- and half-court presses.

The Borderites’ press did the most damage in the second period when Blaine outscored the Wolves 25-4.

“We had some young guys who haven’t played much, and it showed,” coach Anthony Smith said.

Smith saw some positives in the game: “At times we played good defense, and we showed a little bit in the fourth quarter.”

Coupeville outscored the Borderites 10-9 in the final period.

Hunter Smith led the Wolves with 11 points. Jered Brown and Gabe Wynn picked up 5 each; Brian Shank had 3; and Steven Cope and Ariah Bepler added 2 apiece.

Coupeville (0-1) begins league play at 6 p.m. at Chimacum (0-1) Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Girls Basketball

Fast start not enough to carry Wolves to win

Coupeville scored more points in the first quarter than the entire second half, and that helps explain the Wolves’ 35-19 season-opening loss at Blaine Tuesday.

The Wolves led 8-2 after the first quarter and 13-3 midway through the second but scored only 6 points the rest of the way.

Blaine trimmed the lead to 14-12 at the half. Coupeville managed only 2 points in the third period and the Borderites took a 23-16 lead going into the final period.

The Wolves used up so much nervous energy in the first half, according to coach David King, they “didn’t leave enough in the tank for the second half.”

King liked the team’s effort to push the ball on offense, but said his club needs to minimize turnovers and shoot a better percentage.

The Wolves committed 17 turnovers and shot only 29 percent from the field and 25 percent from the line.

He praised the play of reserve Allison Wenzel, who gave the Wolves “a big lift.”

Mia Littlejohn scored 5 points; Lindsey Robert 4; Kailey Kellner 3; Wenzel, Kalia Littlejohn and Lauren Rose 2; and Sarah Wright 1.

Mikayla Elfrank grabbed seven rebounds; Roberts added six.

The Wolves’ first home game is also the Olympic League opener against Chimacum at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Oak Harbor fights back at Mountlake Terrace

A fourth-quarter rally lifted Oak Harbor to a 41-37 win at Mountlake Terrace Wednesday.

The Hawks exploded for 15 third-quarter points and held a 32-29 advantage heading into the final frame.

Rashanna Graham tallied 5 points and Mikhaela Cortez 4 to lead the fourth-quarter comeback.

While the Wildcat offense was scoring 12 points, their defense limited Terrace to 5 in the period.

Free throw shooting was key in the fourth quarter. Oak Harbor sank four of six; the Hawks hit only one of seven.

The teams finished the first quarter tied at 8, as Oak Harbor received 3 points each from Graham and Bryn Langrock.

Langrock poured in 10 points in the second period, and the Wildcats took a 20-17 lead to the locker room.

Only four players scored in the game for each team.

Langrock led the way for the ‘Cats with 18 points; Graham had 11, Cortez 8 and Aujani Frye 4.

Oak Harbor played without starting center Julie Jansen, who was ill.

The Wildcats (1-1) go to Ferndale (0-1) at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5.