Coupeville Sports

Ben Etzell hangs in the air as he goes in for two of his 24 against Mount Vernon Christian. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Injuries have claimed a second Coupeville High School boys’ basketball gunner.

The Wolves lost Gavin O’Keefe to a broken leg in the second game of the season and now Ben Etzell, who has had games of 24 and 21 points this season, is expected to be sidelined for at least 7-10 days.

Etzell has a stress fracture in his right wrist and is battling a staph infection that settled in his elbow.

“I think the origin of my wrist injury was probably a charge that I took against Granite when I braced myself,” Etzell said. “It’s been sore ever since, but I just got it checked today, which means I have been playing with a stress fracture for two-plus weeks.”

He’s also on antibiotics for a staph infection. Etzell is famous for throwing himself across the floor in pursuit of balls and has an impressive collection of floor burns and scabbed-over injuries and it’s likely there that the infection found a way in.

There have been no reports of anyone else on the Coupeville squad having a similar staph infection, though multiple members of the team have battled the viral crud/flu/cold that has been working its way across Whidbey Island.

With Etzell being out at least a week, he would be expected to miss at least three of the final four regular season games. There is an outside shot the Wolf junior could return for a home bout with King’s Friday, Feb. 1.

If not, the Wolves start district tournament play Tuesday, Feb. 5.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can from this injury,” Etzell said. “I would love for that to be against King’s, but time will tell.

“I’m positive the team will continue to get better over the last few games,” he added. “I think it’s very possible there could be an upset, especially heading into the playoffs when we bring some of the younger guys up and will finally have some numbers, which will help.”