Coupeville Sports

Mahkai Myles powers his way to the hoop. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They almost made it all the way back.

Unfortunately for the Coupeville High School JV boys’ basketball team, a furious fourth quarter rally Friday night couldn’t quite save the Wolves.

CHS slashed a double-digit deficit down to a single bucket on Orcas Island, but time ran out, allowing the Vikings to escape with a narrow 46-43 victory.

The loss drops the Wolves to 4-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 5-5 overall, with three games left on the 2024-2025 schedule.

Coupeville came out cold, falling behind 19-5 after one quarter of play, which left it scrambling all night.

The Wolves trimmed the Vikings lead down a bit, pulling within 27-17 at the half, before trailing 37-26 through three frames.

CHS hit both of its three-balls in the fourth, with Mahkai Myles and Carson Grove draining treys to spur a 17-9 rally.

Unlike the varsity game, where Orcas spent much more time at the free throw line, Coupeville got the benefit of the ref’s whistles in the JV rumble but failed to convert.

While the Vikings were just 4 of 13 at the free throw line, the Wolves were 11-26, letting way too many shots slide off the rim on a night where a handful of points would have changed their fate.

Davin Houston finished with a team-high 13 points to pace CHS, with Grove knocking down nine and Riley Lawless powering through the paint for seven.

Myles (5), Khanor Jump (4), Malachi Somes (2), Easton Green (2), and Sage Arends (1) also scored, with Liam Blas bringing the heat on the defensive side of the floor for the Wolves.