Wolves can’t find hoop in loss | Girls basketball

The Coupeville High School girls basketball team held Friday Harbor to 24 points -- and lost. In a score more fitting for football, the Wolves fell 24-19 to the visiting Wolverines Wednesday, Dec. 17.

By Jim Waller • December 18, 2014 1:03 pm
Wynter Thorne leads a fast break in the Wolves' loss Wednesday.
Wynter Thorne leads a fast break in the Wolves' loss Wednesday.

The Coupeville High School girls basketball team held Friday Harbor to 24 points — and lost.

In a score more fitting for football, the Wolves fell 24-19 to the visiting Wolverines Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Coupeville had more turnovers, 23, than points and shot an anemic 18.6 percent (8-for-43) from the field. In keeping with the game’s theme, the Wolves hit only two of nine free throws (22 percent).

Neither team led by more than two as they struggled through the first half. The clubs were tied at four at the end of the first quarter, then Monica Vidoni’s hoop gave the Wolves a 10-8 lead at the half.

Incredibly, it got worse for the Wolves in the third period; it took Coupeville seven minutes to score. That came on McKenzie Bailey’s three-pointer for Coupeville’s only hoop in the quarter.

Shooting wasn’t the problem in the period; the Wolves couldn’t get any shots because of a bevy of turnovers.

Meanwhile, Friday Harbor more than doubled its first-half output and led 17-13 heading into the final eight minutes.

Baskets by Julia Myers and Kacie Kiel brought the Wolves within one, 19-18, with several minutes left.

Madi Kincaid, who scored all seven Wolverine points in the fourth quarter, hit a three-ball and a layup to push the lead to 24-18.

Coupeville could only counter with a free throw from Makana Stone.

The Wolves had plenty of opportunities at the end but couldn’t convert. Friday Harbor missed two free throws, two shots and committed two turnovers in the final 35 seconds, but Coupeville couldn’t take advantage.

Kincaid finished with 13 points, Allie Galt seven, Lili Wood two and Madden Shanks two for Friday Harbor, which upped its record to 5-1.

Stone, who entered the game with a 15-point average, scored six for Coupeville. She also had 12 rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

Hailey Hammer scored four points; Bailey three; and Myers, Kiel and Vidoni two each.

Myers added eight rebounds and two blocks, and Mia Littlejohn had three steals and three assists.

Coupeville (4-3) ferries to Orcas Island (2-2) for a 4 p.m. game Friday, Dec. 19. The Coupeville boys (1-5) faces the Vikings (2-3) at 5:30 p.m.

(McKenzie Bailey looks to start the offense in Wednesday’s game. Photo by Jim Waller.)