Jayden Little flies to the hoop. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
The spell is broken.
Playing at home for the final time this season Monday, the Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams went out with a bang.
Sweeping three wins from visiting South Whidbey, the Wolves fired the first shots in a two-day hoops extravaganza with their neighbors, while claiming their first victories of the season.
Now, during a frantic final week of hardwood action, the two schools will square off again Tuesday, this time in Langley.
That’s a makeup for earlier games postponed by a lack of refs.
After that comes the season finale against Lakewood, also on the road, and then the CMS boys hang up their jerseys for the season.
Reppin’ the red and black.
How Monday played out, on a day when I was babysitting and not in the CMS gym:
Level 1:
Wolf big man Nick Laska matched South Whidbey by himself as Coupeville drilled the Falcons 36-20.
The 8th grader, who leads all CMS players in scoring this season, scored in every quarter, racking up four, six, six, and four points on his way to a season high.
Chayse Van Velkinburgh tossed in 11, including hitting on a trio of three-balls, while Calvin Kappes (3) and Khanor Jump (2) rounded out the torrid offensive attack.
Kamden Ratcliff, Carson Grove, Nathan Niewald, and Jackson Sollars also saw floor time for the Wolves in the win.
Level 2:
Spreading out the offensive love between six players, Coupeville pulled out a 21-15 win.
Roger Merino-Martinez rippled the nets for a team-best six points, with Treyshawn Stewart adding five, including a three-ball.
Jump knocked down four, while Lincoln Wagner, Jayden Little, and River Simpson chipped in with a bucket apiece.
Xander Beaman, Diesel Eck, and Jonah Weyl rounded out the rotation for CMS coach RayLynn Ratcliff.
Level 3:
The biggest rout of the night came in the finale, as Coupeville romped to a 34-10 victory.
Wagner and Deacon Frost paced the Wolves, each tickling the twines for eight, with Johnathan Jacobsen backing them up with six.
Simpson (4), Aiden Wheat (2), Beaman (2), Jacob Lujan (2), and William Tierney (2) also scored, with Mario Martinez bringing the heat on defense.
It was the first points this season for Wheat, Frost, and Tierney, giving Coupeville 23 players who have scored through the first six games.
Coupeville Sports 