Coupeville coach Pat Kelley (left) offers sage advice turning a timeout. (Olivia Kelley photo)
It was a close game until the other team self-destructed.
A foul-happy Burlington-Edison squad fell apart in the game’s final two-and-a-half minutes Saturday, picking up a crucial technical and accidentally shooting at their own basket.
That allowed the Coupeville 6th grade SWISH team, which remained as cool as the other side of the pillow, to close on a 13-3 run, scampering away with a 35-25 win that brought their record to 3-3 on the season.
With Burlington hammering Coupeville’s leading scorer, Matthew Kelley, every time he touched the ball — even hitting him in the head on a buzzer-beating three-point bomb at the end of the first half — the Wolves spread out their offense.
The slick-shooting Sage Downes poured in 12 to pace Coupeville, while Daniel Olson netted nine and Kelley racked up six.
Jake Mitten banked home four, including putting back a rebound after Burlington shot at their own hoop and Dakota Eck rounded out the scoring with a bucket.
The game was knotted at 22 when Burlington was whistled for a technical for an illegal substitution — and much prolonged complaining — and the Wolves took advantage.
Running an effective press, Coupeville spent the final two minutes terrorizing the Tiger ball-handlers into committing numerous turnovers and then turning the loose balls into easy buckets.
The Wolves now head into a rematch with Arlington next weekend. They won 31-28 in the first go-round.
Coupeville Sports 
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