Coupeville Sports

The Wolves get a fourth quarter pep talk. Looking at the camera (l to r) are Sage Downes, Matthew Kelley and Daniel Olson. (Olivia Kelley photo)

The score was deceptive.

While the Coupeville 6th grade boys’ SWISH basketball squad fell 30-21 to Sedro-Woolley Saturday, the Wolves were within a basket with 30 seconds to play.

Unfortunately, a press defense killed them at the end, allowing a much taller, more experienced foe to escape with the win.

Still, even in a loss, the young guns continued to show amazing growth, with two more players — Alex Jimenez and Logan Downes, a third grader playing above his pay grade — scoring their first baskets of the season.

With five games left, nine of 10 Coupeville players have etched their name in the scoring column this season.

Against a Sedro team that has been playing together for three seasons, the Wolves showed “they can hang with and scare anyone in this league,” according to coach Pat Kelley.

“A rematch in the playoffs will have a different outcome!”

Sage Downes paced Coupeville with six points and five rebounds, with Matthew Kelley (four points, 15 rebounds), Jake Mitten (four points, 14 rebounds), Daniel Olson (four points), Jimenez (two points) and Logan Downes (one point) rounding out the scoring attack.

Michael Laska, Dakota Eck and Erik Webster were “relentless in the paint providing pressure and forcing steals and rebounds.”

Coupeville is averaging 29.5 points per game, with Sage Downes topping the scoring chart with 37 points in four games. Kelley (31) and Olson (25) are hot on his heels.

Defensively, Kelley (40 rebounds and 16 steals), Mitten (30 rebounds and seven steals), Sage Downes (15 rebounds and seven steals) and Olson (12 rebounds and five steals) lead the way.