Wolf boys shred undefeated foes

December 15, 2022 by David Svien

Cole White and Co. romped to a big win Wednesday. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Sometimes perfection is overrated.

The Crescent High School varsity boys’ basketball squad arrived in Coupeville Wednesday night carrying a flawless 5-0 record.

By the time they left Cow Town however, the Loggers were stinging from a 60-14 thumping administered by a well-balanced, high-functioning pack of Wolves.

With the non-conference victory, Coupeville gets to 2-3 on the season, with both of their wins boasting a big enough margin to trigger a running clock.

The losses, all fairly close, came against schools from bigger classifications, as the 2B Wolves are playing a tough non-league schedule to open the season.

Wednesday night’s tussle on the hardwood was over almost before it began, with Coupeville jumping on the Loggers quickly.

Wolf gunners Alex Murdy and Logan Downes each tossed in nine points during the opening quarter, with CHS using a ferocious full-court press to bolt out to a 20-4 lead.

Murdy, bringing extreme pressure as the lead big dog on the defensive end of the floor, made off with several steals, as did running mate Cole White.

Everything was clicking for the Wolves in the early stages, and the final play of the frame was a perfect example.

Coupeville whipped the ball around the arc, all five players touching it, as they ran the clock down and kept the Loggers jumping from side to side.

Then, just a fraction of a moment before the shot clock buzzer sounded, the ball landed in Murdy’s hands, the senior sniper calmly knocked down a short jumper, and all the life went out of Crescent.

The Loggers played hard all night, but it was as if, in that moment, they realized to a man, this was not going to be a fun road trip.

On the other side of the floor, it was nothing but good times for Coupeville.

Jonathan Valenzuela stepped up big in the second quarter, raining down seven points, while Downes and Ryan Blouin both snapped the net on gut-punch three-balls.

Up 39-12 at the break, Coupeville turned in a sterling defensive effort after halftime, holding Crescent to just a single bucket over the game’s final 16 minutes.

Going to his bench for extended periods, CHS coach Brad Sherman gave 13 Wolves playing time, and everyone contributed.

William Davidson and Zane Oldenstadt were terrors on the glass, with Davidson also cartwheeling out of bounds in pursuit of a loose ball and bouncing hard off the back wall.

Immediately jumping to his feet, “The Show Pony” cracked a small grin, shook the cobwebs out of his head, then hit the gas pedal and chased down a rival ballhandler.

The Logger meekly surrendered the ball before Davidson could crush him like a rampaging semi-truck in a Michael Bay film. Sometimes common sense wins out.

And the hits kept coming, with Ryan Blouin arcing in another three-ball while sister Alita, also a superb long-range marksman, nodded in approval.

Toss in a sweet runner for fab frosh Chase Anderson and the rampaging force of nature that is known as Dominic Coffman — stealing balls, crashing hard to the hoop, and scaring anyone stupid enough to get in his path.

Mikey Robinett made a big splash in his varsity debut. (Chloe Marzocca photo)

The night’s biggest cheers, though, were reserved for junior Mikey Robinett.

Making his varsity debut, he became the 411th Wolf boy who I’ve been able to document scoring points in the program’s 106-year history.

Not content to stop with one bucket, Robinett knocked down the final two of the evening.

The first came as he rolled hard to the hoop, the ball popping up in the air, swirling around the rim, then falling gently through the net to the screams of his classmates.

Bucket #2 came on a shot which banked off the glass, as Robinett rose to the moment.

Coupeville spread its offense out, with Downes rippling the nets for 17 and outscoring Crescent by himself.

Murdy (9), Valenzuela (9), Blouin (6), Coffman (5), Robinett (4), White (4), Nick Guay (2), Anderson (2), and Davidson (2) also scored.

Wolves Jermiah Copeland, Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim, and Oldenstadt all saw floor time as well.

The victory kicks off a busy stretch for the Wolves, who host Sedro-Woolley Thursday, then travel to Forks Saturday.