With 725 points, Hunter Smith needs six Friday to move into 15th place all-time on the Coupeville boys career scoring chart. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
This one stings a bit.
Suffering through a cold-shooting night Tuesday, the Coupeville High School boys basketball squad dropped a game it needed and wanted.
Falling 51-37 on the road at Klahowya, the Wolves took a step back, sliding into third-place in the Olympic League.
Coupeville gets a strong chance to bounce back Friday, when it hosts win-less Chimacum on the 101st anniversary of the first hoops game in school history, but that doesn’t lessen Tuesday’s dashed hopes.
“Really just not in sync tonight. Never could get much going,” said CHS coach Brad Sherman. “Not the game we expected, but it is what it is.
“Thankfully we play them three times,” he added. “The series is still up for grabs and we know those are games we are more than capable of competing to win.”
Coupeville drops to 2-2 in league play, 4-10 overall, which leaves the Wolves trailing Port Townsend (4-1, 8-5) and Klahowya (3-1, 7-7). Chimacum (0-5, 0-9) brings up the rear.
The Wolves still have five league games left, however, with a trip back to Klahowya Saturday coming hot on the heels of Friday’s bout with Chimacum.
So, while he would have preferred a win Tuesday, Sherman knows there is still much to be resolved.
“We aren’t even half way done with our league schedule, so yes, that one hurts, but we have to keep our focus on the next one,” he said. “This group of guys is very capable of putting a run together, but they really need to believe it.
“Back to work tomorrow!”
The Eagles never really blew the Wolves out, but just steadily built a lead, turning a 14-9 advantage after one into a 23-13 lead at the half, and a 34-20 bulge headed to the final eight minutes.
In that final quarter, Coupeville held its own, with the two teams ramping up their offenses in a 17-17 battle royal.
Sophomore Mason Grove, popping up for a quarter from the JV squad, nailed a pair of three-balls and a free throw in the final quarter to pace the Wolf attack.
For the game senior Hunter Smith topped CHS with 12 points, running his career total to 725.
He is six points from passing Dan Nieder (729) and Steve Whitney (730) to move into 15th place on the Wolf boys hoops career scoring list.
Ethan Spark dropped in eight in support, while Grove and Joey Lippo knocked down seven apiece and Cameron Toomey-Stout hit a three-ball.
John Hartford led Klahowya with a game-high 18.
Coupeville Sports 
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