Coupeville Sports

   Chris Ruck netted a three-ball Saturday, scoring his first points as a Wolf hoops star. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coupeville’s young guns were firing on all cyclinders.

Mason Grove broke 30 points for the third time this season in a JV game, while the Wolf C-Team, making its debut Saturday, came from behind for a victory.

That made for a hectic, but largely satisfying day for CHS coach Chris Smith.

JV:

Sultan’s depth proved to be too much for Coupeville in a 72-54 loss, but Grove’s season-long assault on the net continued.

The Wolf sophomore, who has swung between JV and varsity this year, rained down eight three-balls on his way to a game-high 32.

That follows on the heels of 34 and 33-point performances against Port Townsend earlier this season, and marks the biggest scoring binge by a Coupeville JV player since the 2002-2003 glory days of Allen Black.

Grove has big shoes to fill, as Black, a junior at the time, went off for 347 points in 19 games as a JV player.

He then returned the next year and scored 305 points as a varsity star, earning All-Conference honors.

Grove, who also has 15 varsity points this season, has 235 points in 12 JV games, which means he’s currently ahead of Black’s pace (19.6-18.3).

Facing off with Sultan, Grove got support from Jacobi Pilgrim, who dropped a trio of three-balls on his way to nine points, and Ulrik Wells, who banged down low for six.

Jean Lund-Olsen (4), Gavin Knoblich (2) and David Prescott (1) also scored.

C-Team:

With a ginormous JV roster this season, thanks to a larger-than-expected turnout, Smith and CHS varsity coach Brad Sherman have been scrambling to find some games against C-Teams, as well.

After storming back from seven down at the half Saturday to win 42-39, the third squad travels to Sequim next Saturday, Jan. 20, where it will play their hosts and Port Angeles in a double-header.

Facing off with the Turks, the Wolves fell behind early, then turned on the afterburners.

Down 11-6 after one and 23-16 at the half, CHS sliced the lead to 29-26 heading into the fourth quarter, before turning the game over to Sage Downes.

The freshman singed the nets for seven of his game-high 17 in the final eight minutes, while James Vidoni added a pair of buckets to aid the late-game rally.

Tucker Hall banked home eight (while snagging five rebounds), Vidoni added six points and seven boards and Chris Ruck swished a three-ball for his first CHS points.

Alex Jimenez (4), Daniel Olson (2) and Trevor Bell (2) also scored, while Matt Stevens and Ryan Labrador saw floor time.