Coupeville Sports

Kailey Kellner has led the Wolf JV in scoring this season. (John Fisken photos)

After missing several games with an injury, Tiffany Briscoe’s return to the floor has given the Wolves a spark on defense.

Something changed in the locker room.

Down by a bucket at the break, the Coupeville High School JV girls’ basketball squad erupted in the third quarter Saturday, running host Mount Vernon Christian off the floor.

Using a 16-3 surge sparked by the deadly shooting of Kailey Kellner, the Wolves took a close game and blew it wide open, romping to a 42-25 win.

With four wins in their last six games, the young Wolves are now 7-5 on the season.

The key to the second half surge came when CHS took advantage of the openings in the MVC defense, said Wolf coach Amy King.

“There were a lot of gaps and we just weren’t seeing the open lanes or driving the ball well,” she said. “I challenged them to not get so caught up in running the plays that they missed the easy plays.

“Kailey came out on fire and took over. She anticipated their passes, stole the ball, drove it fast up the court and was able to find the openings to the basket over and over,” King added. “When their defense tried to stop her, both Lauren’s (Grove and Rose) and Kyla (Briscoe) did the same.

“Once our rampage started we just never looked back.”

Coupeville’s ability to kick-start its game and work as a unit impressed people on both sides of the ball.

“After our game, the athletic director from MVC paid the team a very high compliment,” King said. “He has not seen a team work so well together, listening to what their coach told them and doing what was asked of them.”

The Wolves got contributions from all seven of their active players, with Kellner pacing the offense with 13 points, five rebounds, four steals and a blocked shot.

Rose and Skyler Lawrence were hot on Kellner’s tail, pouring in eight apiece while Lawrence “made her presence known in the middle and took care of their tallest girl by just playing hard defense.”

“The entire team stepped up with help defense and just doing all that we practice,” King said. “The girls played a complete game. As a team.”

Grove pumped in five points, Allison Wenzel hit for four and the battlin’ Briscoes, Tiffany and Kyla, both swished a bucket apiece to round out the scoring.

Lawrence (six boards), Kyla Briscoe (five rebounds, six steals), Rose (three rebounds, five steals), Grove (four rebounds, four steals, two blocks) and Tiffany Briscoe (three rebounds, two steals) all filled up the stat sheet.