Coupeville grad Makana Stone, now a senior at Whitman College, opens her basketball season Friday in Spokane. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
They’re on their final lap.
Two of the best athletes to come out of Coupeville High School, Nick Streubel and Makana Stone, are in the process of wrapping equally-stellar college athletic careers.
Streubel is in the final weeks of his time as an offensive lineman at Central Washington University, while Stone tips off her senior season Friday with the Whitman College women’s basketball team.
A two-time All-Conference pick while playing with the Blues, Stone is on target to become just the ninth Whitman woman in the modern era to top 1,000 career points.
The former Wolf, who has helped the Blues compile a 68-17 record during her three seasons on campus, also has a solid chance of finishing in the Top 10 all-time in numerous other categories.
Which is pretty dang good, as the school dates its women’s hoops program back to 1902.
Whitman’s official record book is missing stats from 1903-1969, but that’s not as bad as it might sound at first, as women’s college sports exist in two vastly different worlds — pre and post Title IX.
Playing in the modern era, where scoring is greatly ramped up, Stone’s numbers can stand with the best Whitman has produced.
She is already #6 all-time in offensive rebounds, #7 in both defensive rebounds and total rebounds, and #10 in field goal made.
Whitman opens its 25-game regular season schedule with an appearance at the Whit Classic in Spokane.
The Blues play Concordia University of Texas Friday, before facing Carroll College of Montana Saturday.
The regular season stretches through late February, with the top four teams from the Northwest Conference advancing to the league’s postseason tourney Feb. 27 and 29.
Whitman has made it to the tourney in each of Stone’s seasons, finishing 3rd, 2nd, and 2nd in regular season play.
The Blues won the NWC postseason tourney during her freshman season, before advancing all the way to the Elite 8 of the NCAA D-III championships.
Stone and Co. made it back to the national tourney the next year, falling in the first round, before being denied a bid last season despite a strong 20-7 record.
Seniors Mady Burdett and Lily Gustafson and juniors Taylor Chambers and Kaelan Shamseldin join Stone as leaders on an experience-packed roster which was picked to win the league title in a preseason coach’s poll.
Whitman is also ranked #21 in the first D3hoops.com poll.
Makana’s career numbers (2016-2019):
Points – 928
Offensive Rebounds – 236
Defensive Rebounds – 376
Total Rebounds – 612
Assists – 123
Steals – 65
Blocks – 39
Field Goals – 394 of 781 (50.4%)
Free Throws – 139 of 199 (69.8%)
Games – 83
Starts – 66
Minutes – 1876
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