Coupeville Sports

   Risen Johnson is ready to lead Coupeville into sole possession of first place in the 1A Olympic League Tuesday. (John Fisken photo)

Turn the page and turn things around.

That’s what the Coupeville High School boys’ basketball squad will try to do Tuesday night.

The Wolves may have fallen 56-39 at South Whidbey Monday in a non-conference game, but they will have a chance to completely flip the script less than 24 hours later.

Coupeville, now 4-5, hosts Port Townsend at 7 PM Tuesday (JV 5:15) in the biggest game of the season.

With both the Wolves and RedHawks sitting at 1-0 in league play, Tuesday’s winner will claim sole possession of first place in the 1A Olympic League.

Defending league champ Chimacum and Klahowya, who are both 0-1 in conference play, will face off Friday.

Win or lose Tuesday, Coupeville will still have seven league games left.

But being in the drivers seat is always preferable.

The Wolves should have a full roster against the RedHawks, which was not the case against South Whidbey.

Two of the team’s top four scoring threats this season — Wiley Hesselgrave (#1 at 14.6 points per game) and Ryan Griggs (#4 at 5.3) — sat out against the Falcons.

Both are expected to be back on the floor against Port Townsend.

Without the duo, Coupeville got most of its scoring Monday from senior Jordan Ford, who poured in a team-high 19.

He was a consistent force from opening tip to final buzzer, tossing in four in the first, four more in the second, six in the third and five in the fourth.

JJ Johnson backed Ford up with six, hitting a pair of long treys, while Risen Johnson and DeAndre Mitchell each knocked down five.

Desmond Bell and Hunter Smith rounded out the Wolf scoring attack with a bucket apiece.

The Wolves, who were swept by their Island rivals this season, were held under 40 points for only the second time.

Both times have come against South Whidbey, which improved to 5-5.

The Falcons were led by Chase White, who went off for 26, and Lewis Pope, who chipped in with 20.

While the hosts led the entire way, the game was still close through three quarters.

South Whidbey went up 11-6 after one, stretched the lead to 28-20 at the half, then coasted to a 38-29 bulge after three. An 18-10 fourth quarter stretched the final margin out.