Coupeville Sports

Ryan Griggs prepares to shoot a free-throw against Cedarcrest. (Shelli Trumbull photos)

The Fab Four Frosh (l to r) are Griggs, Jared Helmstadter, Wiley Hesselgrave and Dalton Martin.

Ryan Griggs lets his play speak for him.

The Coupeville High School freshman is a man of few words — at least in interviews — but his hustle and offensive skills say a lot on the court.

Against Cedarcrest Friday night, it was Griggs who finally put a forcible stop to a rampaging Red Wolf JV boys’ basketball squad that exploded for 30 points in the third quarter alone.

On back-to-back plays, Griggs took the ball right at the heart of the defense and torched the defenders for buckets, drawing a foul and a resulting three-point play on the second effort.

Part of a seven point performance on the night for the six-foot wing, it showcased why the Coupeville freshmen (Griggs, Wiley Hesselgrave, Jared Helmstadter and the soon-to-return Dalton Martin) form a bright future for the Wolf program.

Griggs, who has been playing hoops since fifth grade, actually considers himself more of a defensive presence than a big-time scorer, though local fans could have been fooled as he carved up the Cedarcrest defenders.

“I am better at defense and need to work on my shooting,” Griggs said. “One of my goals for the season is just to get better as a player, so that I can help the team.”

Griggs, who was a tight end/center for the Wolf JV football team in the fall, is beginning to find his way through the classrooms at CHS, as well.

“I love my music productions class and I am really good at math,” he said.

Whether on the athletic fields and courts, in the classroom or off in the non-school world, he draws support from his family and fellow classmates.

“My mother and grandpa are extremely supportive,” Griggs said. “I really admire Caleb Valko and Ben Germano — they are super nice on the court and off the court.”