A 12-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter carried the Orcas Island High School boys basketball team to a 69-53 non-conference win at Coupeville Friday, Dec. 29.

Coupeville (1-0, 3-6) now has six days off before playing a pair of games next weekend. The Wolves host North Mason (3-6) in a non-league game at 6:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, and then return to Olympic League play when Klahowya (1-0, 4-6) visits at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6.

Orcas Island (4-4) started the game on a hot streak, hitting four of its first five shots, including connecting on its first three three-point attempts, and jumped to an 11-4 lead. From that point, the Vikings remained 3 to 10 points ahead through the first three periods. Orcas led 19-16 and 37-32 after the first two periods.

Each time Orcas Island would threaten to pull away, Coupeville would surge to stay in contact.

That changed at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Vikings led 50-42 going into the period and scored again to take a 10-point lead. Ethan Spark tallied for the Wolves, then Orcas Island took off. Unlike earlier in the game, Coupeville didn’t respond, failing to score in nearly five minutes.

The Vikings’ quick start to the game was aided by Coupeville mistakes.

“We were pretty careless with the ball,” Coupeville coach Brad Sherman said. “They are a good team and took advantage.”

The Wolves played without two starters, Joey Lippo and Cameron Toomey-Stout, and top reserve Kyle Rockwell. Lippo and Rockwell were out of town during the Christmas break and Toomey-Stout is recovering from an ankle injury.

While the Wolves missed the trio, Sherman said, it was good “getting some young guys valuable minutes.”

That experience will help as Coupeville head into the meat of its schedule, which includes eight conference games.

“Ultimately, those are the ones we want to be ready for.”

Sherman liked his team’s effort in the loss: “They played hard like they always do; there is no quit in our guys.”

Hunter Smith scored 25 points for Coupeville, and Ethan Spark added 16 while hitting four three-pointers. Jered Brown had 5 points, Hunter Downes 4 and Mason Grove 3.

Spark also had five rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Downes grabbed 10 rebounds. Smith and Ulrik Wells added five rebounds each.

Vanya Bullock topped Orcas with 19 points, Hayden Simpson had 13 and Yusuf Duni 12.

Ethan Spark goes on the attack for the Wolves. (Photo by John Fisken)

Jered Brown spots up for a three-point attempt. (Photo by John Fisken)