Coupeville Sports

Nico Strong enjoys slicing ‘n dicing the defense. (Julie Wheat photos)

The last road trip of the season went off with a bang.

Playing away from home for the fourth time Tuesday, the Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams won two of three at South Whidbey, claiming the early advantage in the Island rivalry series.

Now, the Wolves finish the 2025 hoops campaign with three straight in their own gym, hosting Lakewood (Dec. 4), Sultan (Dec. 8) and South Whidbey (Dec. 15).

How Tuesday played out:

Level 1:

Getting double-digit scoring from both Diesel Eck and Kamden Ratcliff, CMS ran the Cougars off the floor during a 50-32 romp.

The win, Coupeville’s second straight, lifts its top squad to 2-3 on the season.

Balanced scoring was the plan, as the Wolves poured in 13 points each in the first, third, and fourth quarters, while spreading the offensive love out between six players.

Eck pounded away for a game-high 17, while Ratcliff popped for 15, with both Wolf gunners racking up points in all four frames.

The dynamic duo was backed by Trey Stewart (9), River Simpson (5), Aiden Wheat (2), and Maverick Walling (2), while Jacob Lujan, Xander Beaman, Darius Stewart, Gracen Joiner, and Colton Ashby rounded out the roster.

The Wolves listen to some words of wisdom.

Level 2:

Coupeville’s hottest team captured its third consecutive victory, crunching South Whidbey 41-34 to get to 4-1 on the season.

Gracen Joiner poured in a season-high 18 points, with 10 of those coming in just the third quarter, to pace the Wolves, with Brady Sherman and Xander Flowers each banking in eight in support.

Braxten Ratcliff (3), Nico Strong (2), and Henry Purdue (2) also scored for CMS, with Brayden Grinstead, Mario Martinez, Abel O’Neil, Jack Bailey, Hayden Maynes, Liam Stoner, and Mica McCloskey also in uniform.

Level 3:

Coupeville’s only loss of the afternoon, as the Wolves fell 35-24.

Now 1-3 on the season, the third team was led by Liam Stoner, who tossed in a team-high eight points.

Alton Hansen (4), Dreyke Mendiola (4), Mica McCloskey (4), Luke Blas (2), and Logan Flowers (2) also tallied points, with Oliver Miller, Jon Driscoll, Logan Dees, Jack Bailey, Dom Durbin, LJ Schultz, Burke Winger, and Gabe Reed also offering hustle on the hardwood.