Coupeville Sports

DeAndre Mitchell, seen here in an earlier game, went for 11 in Friday’s win. (John Fisken photo)

If this was a statement game, consider the statement delivered.

Making a strong case that they will be right in the thick of the battle for the 1A Olympic League title this year, the Coupeville High School boys’ basketball squad drilled host Klahowya 82-69 Friday.

With five different players scoring in double digits, the Wolves jumped all over the Eagles and never let up, improving to 3-3 overall, 1-0 in league play.

It was the second straight win for Coupeville, and the 82 points were the most the Wolves have scored in a game this season.

Coupeville’s three league rivals — Klahowya, Port Townsend and Chimacum — are a combined 0-14 this season.

Just as the Wolves are getting red-hot, they will have to cool their heels though, as they play only one game in the next three weeks.

They host Concrete Friday, Dec. 18, then are off until Dec. 30, when La Conner comes to Whidbey.

Coupeville doesn’t play another league game until it hosts Port Townsend Jan. 5.

For now, though, they can bask in another high-scoring performance.

Coming on the heels of scoring 27 in the opening quarter against Orcas Island, the Wolves threw down 25 in the first eight minutes of play Friday night.

Adding 20 more in the second quarter, they carried a 45-26 lead into the halftime locker room.

Senior Risen Johnson pumped in a team-high 22, while Wiley Hesselgrave banked home 15 and Jordan Ford and Gabe Wynn each dropped 12.

DeAndre Mitchell cashed in all three of his three-point attempts en route to scoring 11, Ryan Griggs went for nine and Desmond Bell slipped a free throw through the twines to round out the scoring.

Ford led the way on the boards with 10, while Johnson and Griggs each snared five. Hesselgrave collected four, Bell and Wynn grabbed three apiece and Jared Helmstadter claimed two.

Johnson had five assists and three steals, Ford and Hesselgrave each pilfered three steals and Griggs went sky high to reject a pair of Eagles shots.

JV falls:

Brian Shank returned from an injury to spark the Wolf JV with 12 points and eight boards, but the Wolves were nipped 41-39.

The loss dropped the young guns to 1-4 overall, 0-1 in league play.

Gabe Eck hit for six, snagged six rebounds and made off with five steals, while Beauman Davis (5), Ty Eck (5), Luke Merriman (4) and Ariah Bepler (3) rounded out the scorers.

Ty Eck had four rebounds and two steals, while Merriman chipped in with three boards and two steals of his own. James Vidoni snatched two rebounds.