Wolves (left to right) Amanda Fabrizi, Breeanna Messner, Kacie Kiel and Katie Kiel. (Amy King photo)
Monica Vidoni, one of the rising stars for CHS basketball.
The basket — she calls to them.
There are other sports, but few exert the siren call that basketball does. At least it seems that way when you listen to the excitement in the voices of Coupeville High School athletes as they count down the few remaining hours before the hoops season officially kicks off with the first day of practice Monday, Nov. 12.
Actual games don’t begin until Thursday, Nov. 29, when the Wolf girls hit the road and travel to Cedar Park Christian. The Coupeville boys’ squad debuts Saturday, Dec. 1 at home against Blaine.
But the first time coaches Anthony Smith (boys) and David King (girls) officially welcome their players is like Christmas day for hoop-a-holics.
“I am excited for it to begin, because since volleyball ended I have had nothing to do after school and basketball keeps me in great shape,” said junior Amanda Fabrizi. “And I’m excited to be playing with my friends again! And I’m also excited to have the Kings as my coach again!!
“I love basketball because of the intensity of the game,” she added. “And I love how it is a fast paced game and you are never standing still.”
Sophomore Monica Vidoni is in total agreement. While she also plays volleyball and softball for the Wolves, it’s hoops that rules her heart.
“I love basketball because it’s such a competitive sport. Basketball has lots of action, and it’s high-scoring,” Vidoni said. “Lots of contact! I love blocking other peoples shots and ripping the ball away before they call a jump ball!”
While she has many fond memories from her time on the hard court — including dropping 20 points on South Whidbey in a blowout JV win last season — it’s an eighth-grade game that remains the enduring highlight.
Playing at home against Lakewood, the Wolves threatened to self-destruct. Madeline Strasburg went down with an ankle injury, and then bam-bam-bam, Hailey Hammer, Julia Myers and Faith Shinn all fouled out of the game.
Down to four players (Vidoni, Kacie Kiel, Micky LeVine and McKayla Bailey), Coupeville played a man down in the fourth quarter, but refused to bow down.
Vidoni pumped in 19 to pace Coupeville, then snatched a rebound and hurled an outlet pass to Kiel, who made a left-handed layup to seal the deal in a nail-biting 35-31 victory.
Vidoni, like Fabrizi and all of her teammates, hope for more of the same success this season.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Bessie (Walstad) this year!,” Vidoni said. “And I also think that our team will do better then last year!”
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