Coupeville Sports

Mia Farris, seen last season, led Coupeville in scoring during Monday’s season opener. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The offense is a work in progress.

There was times Monday when the Coupeville High School varsity girls’ basketball squad really clicked during its season opener, but also a lot of moments where the Wolves looked like what they are.

A team which lost almost 80% of its offense to graduation and has to figure out how to generate buckets with basically an all-new starting lineup.

Unable to score back-to-back buckets at any point against host Mount Baker, the Wolves fell 52-21 against a team which rained down five shots from beyond the arc, and a whole lot of others from in close.

The game was knotted up at 2-2 early after Madison McMillan tore down a rebound, then powered her way right back up to bank the ball home over outstretched arms.

Unfortunately for Coupeville, it didn’t score again for six minutes plus, allowing Mount Baker to go on a game-busting 12-0 run.

McMillan finally stopped her team’s bleeding, nailing a pull-up jumper to close the first quarter, only to have the Mountaineers immediately respond with a 10-0 surge to open the second frame.

The Wolves eventually hit on a string of free throws, with Skylar Parker, Jada Heaton, and Katie Marti each rippling the net, but only knocked down one field goal in the quarter.

That came when Marti powered up court, going coast to coast to beat the buzzer and pull CHS within 28-9 at the half.

Coupeville picked up the offensive pace a bit after the break, notching six points in both the third and fourth, but Mount Baker controlled the boards and continued to stretch the lead.

Marti delivered a pair of beautiful passes to set up buckets, hitting Heaton with a long outlet heave, then threading the ball through the defense to find Lyla Stuurmans for a layup.

Wolf junior Mia Farris had the hot hand in the final frame, scoring all of her team-high six points in the waning minutes.

Marti rattled the rim for five points in support, while McMillan (4), Heaton (3), Stuurmans (2), and Parker (1) also scored.

Teagan Calkins and Kayla Arnold rounded out the Wolves to see floor time, with both making their varsity basketball debut for CHS.

Coupeville returns to action this Saturday, Dec. 2, when it hosts Toledo for varsity-only non-conference rumbles.

The girls tip off at 3:00, followed by the Wolf boys at 4:45.