Lyla Stuurmans and a young Coupeville High School girls hoops squad fought valiantly Thursday, but fell to a state powerhouse. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
There was a state championship-caliber girls basketball team on the floor Thursday night in Coupeville.
Unfortunately for local fans, it was not the Wolves.
Coupeville is a very-young, often very-scrappy team with a bright future, but the Braves are very much in their prime.
La Conner, which played in the 2B state title game a year ago, has already beaten 1A royalty King’s this season, and is currently obliterating competition in the Northwest 2B/1B League.
Thursday, playing without three players, including injured point guard Maddie Georges, the Wolves had few answers for the wrecking ball, falling 74-15.
The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for Coupeville and drops them to 2-3 heading into a Friday road trip to Darrington.
La Conner, whose lineup was like five pistons firing in perfect unison on most plays, is bigger, stronger, faster, more confident, and crisper in its execution than the Wolves.
Or just about any other team for that matter.
The Braves jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, Coupeville responded with an Izzy Wells bucket, set up by a nice dish and drive from Audrianna Shaw, and then the tsunami hit.
Trailing 33-2 at the first break, the Wolves stayed on their toes, however, putting together their most-solid quarter in the second frame.
While it was outscored 12-6 across those eight minutes, CHS dug in and fought for every rebound and loose ball.
Scrappers like Ryanne Knoblich and Gwen Gustafson swung their elbows with conviction, even while being bombarded by double teams, while Carolyn Lhamon and Ja’Kenya Hoskins crashed the boards.
Wolf 8th grader Savina Wells nailed a long jumper to open the second quarter, then added two free throws, and showed little fear as she frequently pushed the ball hard at the hoop.
Down 45-8 at the half, Coupeville fought both the Braves and, eventually, a running clock in the second half.
While the final score was lopsided, there were moral victories to be found, as the Wolves were only the third team in six games to hold La Conner under 80+ points.
The Braves have outscored their six opponents 438-106, or 394-67 if you take out their 44-39 victory over King’s.
Savina Wells paced Coupeville Thursday with four points, while Hoskins and Gustafson finished with three apiece.
Shaw (2), Izzy Wells (2), and Lhamon (1) also scored, with Lyla Stuurmans, Morgan Stevens, and Knoblich all playing scrappy defense.
No JV game:
La Conner is limiting its public beat-downs to the varsity level this season, so Coupeville’s JV squad, which was spoiling for a fight, had the night off.
Coupeville Sports 
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