Brian Shank lines up a jumper. (Shelli Trumbull photo)
The fourth quarter was a doozy.
With both teams running wild Saturday afternoon, the boys JV basketball game between Coupeville High School and visiting University Prep suddenly went from mild to wild in one eight minute stretch.
After combining for 53 points in the first 24 minutes, the two teams threw up 42 more in one final back-and-forth quarter, with the Wolves surging to within three, before the Pumas recaptured their mojo and closed out a 52-43 win.
Trailing 39-26, Coupeville finally discovered its offensive touch midway through the fourth, and, for a bit, looked unstoppable.
With Dante Mitchell raining down a pair of three-point bombs, the Wolves went on a 13-3 tear that culminated with Isaac Vargas calmly banking two high, arcing free-throw shots off the backboard.
The run, which also featured baskets from Gabe Wynn and DeAndre Mitchell, pulled Coupeville to within 42-39.
But then, just as quickly as it had started, it ended, as the next couple of shots rattled around the rim but refused to drop in. Given a reprieve, University Prep rolled off ten straight points to seal the deal.
The Wolves refused to bow even then, though, scoring the game’s final two baskets.
Dante Mitchell went strong in the paint for two, before Uriel Liquidano picked the pocket of a Puma and beat the pack down the court for a game-ending layup.
With the offense only clicking sporadically in the early going, Coupeville’s best moment had been a first quarter thriller from Jared Helmstadter, who capped off a break by coming to an emphatic, floor-stomping stop and nailed a sweet jumper over the outstretched arms of a flailing defender.
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