Coupeville Sports

Teagan Calkins loves to win. (Parker Hammons photo)

It took a moment or two, but then everything clicked into place.

Getting revved up after a lackluster start Thursday, the Coupeville High School varsity girls’ basketball team turned on the offensive fireworks and romped to a win in its playoff opener.

From five points down to 17 up, the Wolves rode the rollercoaster before exiting with a 45-36 win over visiting Auburn Adventist Academy.

The win lifts CHS to 9-10 on the season and sends them to the semifinals of the double-elimination District 1/2 tourney.

Megan Richter’s squad heads to Mount Vernon Christian Saturday, and win or lose, will host its third playoff bout.

Upset top-ranked MVC and the Wolves advance to the title game, set for the CHS gym Feb. 20.

Lose Saturday, and Coupeville hosts Friday Harbor — which it has beat twice this season — Feb. 18 in a loser-out game.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4590

Thursday’s tilt started nicely, with CHS senior Lyla Stuurmans banking in the first bucket of the game.

Then, things went sideways for the Wolves.

Shots rimmed out, passes sailed over outstretched fingertips, and Auburn slowly crawled out to a 7-2 lead as the first break neared.

Coupeville needed a spark, and it found one in the magic shooting fingers of Mia Farris.

The Wolf senior beat the defense, and the clock, knocking down a pullup jumper with three ticks left on the clock in the first quarter, and the comeback fuse was lit.

And how, as Coupeville suddenly found its offensive groove, going on a 20-6 rampage in the second frame.

It started with Teagan Calkins slashing down the baseline for a leaning layup and closed with Farris converting an offensive rebound into a second-chance bucket with … wait for it … three ticks left on the clock.

Truly “Mia the Magnificent,” marinating in her moment.

Lyla Stuurmans, kind of a legend. (Bailey Thule photo)

In between those two buckets, Coupeville got big plays from Tenley Stuurmans — netting three free throws after being fouled while shooting a three-ball — and big sis Lyla.

The elder Stuurmans, who is closing her run as the only girl in school history to play five seasons of varsity basketball, snapped the net on a trey which gave her precisely 250 career points at that moment.

The pass which set up the historic three-ball? It was delivered by Tenley Stuurmans.

Sparked by an opportunistic defense which created a ton of loose balls and second-chance shots, the Wolves rambled into the halftime locker room with a 24-13 lead and a strut in their collective steps.

To which Auburn Adventist declared, “We’re not dead just yet.”

The visitors hit back-to-back three-balls as part of an 8-0 surge to open the third, cutting the deficit down to 24-21 and hope briefly flickered for their fans.

But the Wolves weren’t having it.

Not missing a beat, Coupeville immediately rallied for its own 13-0 run, with five different players scoring, before capping the quarter with a layup from Madison McMillan.

Which sank through the net with … three ticks left on the clock … making for an uncanny run of quarter-ending buzzer-beaters from the Wolves.

Coupeville eventually stretched the advantage all the way out to 17 at 43-26 in the fourth quarter, before Auburn rallied late to get the final score back down to a more-reasonable margin.

For the only time all night, the Wolves did NOT end a quarter with a buzzer-beater, electing just to dribble out the final seconds as their fans and classmates celebrated.

Mia Farris prepares to pick apart the defense. (Bailey Thule photo)

Calkins led the way with a team-high 12 points, while Tenley Stuurmans (9), Lyla Stuurmans (7), Farris (6), McMillan (6), Haylee Armstrong (3), and Katie Marti (2) also scored.

Defensive dynamos Jada Heaton and Danica Strong rounded out the rotation, blitzing Auburn shooters and making them flinch all game.