Coupeville Sports

Daniel Olson and company waged a war Saturday, coming up just short at the end. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

All you can ask for is a chance to win it at the end.

Some shots go in, some pop back out – it’s the story of basketball since the first time someone heaved a ball at a peach basket.

But after fighting back from an 11-point deficit on the road Saturday, the Coupeville High School varsity boys hoops squad got the look it wanted, which is a moral victory at least.

Unfortunately, what could have been a buzzer-beater rimmed out, as they sometimes do, letting host Friday Harbor escape with a gut-clenching 52-51 win.

The loss drops Coupeville to 1-2 on the season, though with a few small things going in the opposite direction, the Wolves are 3-0 at this point.

As he endured an endless wait for a ferry home, Wolf coach Brad Sherman retained his inner calmness.

“I’m not too worried about the record after the first week,” he said.

“If we can put together four quarters with the heart and tenacity we just saw from our guys in that second half, and clean up the boards a little, we are in a really good place down the stretch.”

Playing at Friday Harbor against a team which also entered the day at 1-1, the Wolves stayed close for a quarter, then hit a roadblock in the second eight-minute span.

Down just 11-10 entering the second quarter, Coupeville was outscored 18-8 in the frame, falling behind 29-18 at the break.

The third quarter was a completely different story, however, thanks to Hawthorne Wolfe’s hot hand, as he rained down 10 points to spark a 17-7 surge.

Sophomore Alex Murdy came off the bench to play big-time defense, helping shut down Friday Harbor’s main weapons, and the rally was on.

The fourth quarter was a war, Hagler and Hearns peppering each other with body blows, only this time it was Hawk and Xavier Murdy going toe-to-toe with Dylan Roberson and Kyson Jackson.

The Coupeville main men outscored their Friday Harbor counterparts 16-8 in the final stage, but the Wolverines managed to find just enough scoring from other folks to hold on to their one-point lead through the final buzzer.

Wolfe finished with a game-high 24, and has rung up 82 through the first three games of the season.

With Coupeville’s next two games at home — May 25 against Concrete and May 27 against La Conner — the CHS junior, with 492 career points, is on target to crack the 500-point club in front of his fans.

Xavier Murdy knocked down 12 points Saturday to back Wolfe, while Alex Murdy (5), Daniel Olson (4), Logan Downes (3), and Grady Rickner (3) also scored.

Logan Martin, Sage Downes, and TJ Rickner all saw floor time, as well.