Coupeville Sports

TJ Rickner was a force on the boards for the Coupeville JV hoops squad, which roared back Saturday to capture a one-point win. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Close like champions.

Storming back from an early deficit, the Coupeville High School JV boys basketball squad saved its best for last Saturday, using a fourth-quarter surge to stun The Bush School 34-33.

The non-conference home win, coming in front of an enthusiastic pack of their fellow CHS students, lifts the young Wolves to 1-1 on the season.

Bush struck first, rolling out to a 10-5 lead after one quarter against a Coupeville squad missing three players, including starter Alex Jimenez, who broke his foot the previous day.

The major bright spot in the opening frame was freshman Logan Martin, who did his best to keep the Wolves alive, scoring all of their points in the opening quarter.

Things settled down a bit after that, but, while Coupeville played Bush even through the next two quarters (6-6 and 9-9), it couldn’t shave the lead.

Enter the fourth quarter and ignite the one-two scoring pop of sophomore gunners Daniel Olson and Sage Downes, who promptly fueled a frantic 14-8 game-finishing run.

Olson hit a pair of jumpers, Tucker Hall tossed in a free throw, then Downes burnt the joint down with a pair of three-balls launched from up around Deception Pass.

Downes scored all 11 of his points in the second half, while Martin finished with nine.

TJ Rickner, who was a force on the boards all night, popped for five in support, while Olson (4), Hall (4), and Cody Roberts (1) rounded out the Wolf scoring attack.

Defensive dynamos Miles Davidson and Chris Ruck also saw floor time for Coupeville, which was playing without Jimenez, Xavier Murdy, Grady Rickner and coach Chris Smith.

Scott Fox stepped in to fill Smith’s shoes, picking up his first win as a CHS coach.