Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Boys Basketball’ Category

Scrappy Wolves wage hardwood war

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , , on November 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Kamden Ratcliff left it all on the floor Thursday. (RayLynn Ratcliff photo)

It was a split decision.

Playing on the road in Everett Thursday, the Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams nabbed a nailbiter win and a hard-fought loss while squaring off with Northshore Christian Academy.

It was the third straight trip off-Island for the road warriors, who now get to stick to Whidbey the rest of the way.

Coupeville has four of its final five games at home, beginning with a bout with Granite Falls this coming Tuesday, Nov. 25, along with one short trek to Langley to face South Whidbey.

 

How Thursday played out:

 

Team #1:

Coupeville came out on fire but hit a bit of an offensive lull in the middle of the game, eventually falling 55-40.

The Wolves put up a spirited battle, however, with Diesel Eck (13), Kamden Ratcliff (12), and River Simpson (9) combining to score 34 of their team’s points.

Ratcliff was an equal opportunity threat, pounding the boards and “handling the ball with grace and composure” as he “made action happen with his drives!”

Gracen Joiner rattled the rim for four points in support, while Trey Stewart and Colton Ashby rounded out the offense by netting a free throw apiece.

Xander Beaman and Darius Stewart also saw floor time for the Wolves.

Les Queen rolls to the hoop for a bucket. (Jackie Queen photo)

 

Team #2:

Balanced scoring was the key, as eight different Wolves made the net bounce during a 38-37 win.

Les Queen paced CMS, scoring in all four quarters as he racked up a game-high 15 points.

Abel O’Neil (7), Braxten Ratcliff (4), Henry Purdue (4), Xander Flowers (2), Hayden Maynes (2), Brady Sherman (2), and Nico Strong (2) also kept the scorebook keeper busy.

Rounding out the roster were Liam Stoner, Mario Martinez, Brayden Grinstead, and Dreyke Mendiola.

 

Team #3:

Northshore only goes two teams deep, so the Wolves sat this one out.

Read Full Post »

Shoot, score, make the stat sheet pop

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , on November 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Whether it’s fishing or hoops, Braxten Ratcliff is always ready to score. (Photo courtesy RayLynn Ratcliff)

They know how to make the net jump.

Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams have played twice so far, reaching the quarter mark of their eight-game campaign.

Playing exclusively on the road in the early going, 25 different Wolves have slipped the ball through the twines, combining to rattle the rims for 184 points.

Seven of those CMS hoops stars have already hit double digits, and it’s a wide-open race for top honors as Coupeville preps for yet another road trip to play at Northshore Christian Academy Thursday afternoon.

While the front end of the schedule is stacked with bus and ferry trips, the Wolves will play their final three games, and four of their last five, on their home court.

Scoreboard operators, get ready to rumble!

 

Through Nov. 19:

Braxten Ratcliff – 26
Diesel Eck – 23
Trey Stewart – 14
River Simpson – 13
Luke Blas – 11
Dreyke Mendiola – 11
Les Queen – 11
Nico Strong – 8
Abel O’Neil – 7
Jack Bailey – 6
Kamden Ratcliff – 6
Brady Sherman – 6
Liam Stoner – 6
Xander Flowers – 5
Logan Flowers – 4
Henry Purdue – 4
LJ Schultz – 4
Alton Hansen – 3
Mario Martinez – 3
Hayden Maynes – 3
Xander Beaman – 2
Logan Dees – 2
Jon Driscoll – 2
Brayden Grinstead – 2
Gracen Joiner – 2

Read Full Post »

Feisty Wolves tangle with big-timers

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , on November 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Abel O’Neil, the Zen Master. (Photo courtesy Fern Photography)

They squared off with the hoops heavyweights of the region and lived to tell the tale.

While the Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams didn’t nab a win Tuesday at King’s, the Wolves remained scrappy from opening tip to final buzzer.

How the day played out:

 

Team #1:

A rough second half ultimately doomed Coupeville in a 45-23 loss.

The Wolves, now 0-2 on the season, peppered the nets for 21 first half points, but were held scoreless in the third quarter and couldn’t get the net to accept many of their offerings in the late stages of the game.

Diesel Eck topped CMS with eight points, while Trey Stewart banged away for six in support.

Also scoring were Kamden Ratcliff (3), Gracen Joiner (2), Xander Beaman (2), and River Simpson (2), with Ratcliff swishing a three-ball.

Maverick Walling, Aiden Wheat, Darius Stewart, Jacob Lujan, and Colton Ashby finished out the Wolf roster.

 

Team #2:

A tense nail-biter, with King’s pulling out a 31-30 win to defend its home turf.

The narrow loss drops the Wolves to 1-1 on the season, but pushing the highly favored Knights to the final shot is a major step forward for a young CMS squad.

Braxten Ratcliff banked in a trio of three-balls en route to a team-high 12 points, while Les Queen (5), Nico Strong (4), Brady Sherman (4), Mario Martinez (3), and Abel O’Neil (2) rounded out the attack.

Also in uniform for Coupeville were Jack Bailey, Henry Purdue, Hayden Maynes, Dreyke Mendiola, Brayden Grinstead, Mica McCloskey, and Xander Flowers.

 

Team #3:

Coupeville was clicking in the second quarter but had trouble getting the ball to stay in the net the rest of the night and came up short in a 29-18 loss.

Now 1-1 on the season, CMS was paced by Dreyke Mendiola and Luke Blas, who each nailed a three-ball while recording nine and five points, respectively.

LJ Schultz and Liam Stoner chipped in with a basket apiece, with Oliver Miller, Burke Winger, Gabe Reed, Vincent Alguire, Jon Driscoll, Logan Dees, Dom Durbin, Jack Bailey, Logan Flowers, Alton Hansen, and Mica McCloskey also on call.

 

Up next:

Coupeville travels to Everett Thursday to face Northshore Christian Academy, then gets its first home games Nov. 25, when Granite Falls comes to Cow Town.

Read Full Post »

Young Wolves howl on opening day

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , on November 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

River Simpson was one of three Wolves to score in double digits in Sultan Thursday. (Photo courtesy Rainy Simpson)

The first chapter has been written.

Kicking off a new basketball season in style Thursday, the Coupeville Middle School boys’ hoops teams won two of three in Sultan, with 22 Wolves getting in the scoring column.

The trek off-Island is one the CMS hoops stars will quickly get used to, as they play their first three, and four of their first five, on the road this season.

For Coupeville’s coaching staff, the season debut was one to embrace.

“Everyone worked their tails off,” RayLynn Ratcliff said. “Very proud coaches and showed us what we gotta work on!”

 

How the day played out:

 

Team #3:

Balanced scoring was the name of the game, as Coupeville’s C-Team opened things with a 31-12 win.

The Wolves rang up eight points in each of the first three quarters, then toned it down (just slightly) with seven in the final frame.

Luke Blas and Jack Bailey each pumped in six to lead the way, with Liam Stoner and Logan Flowers chipping in with four apiece.

Alton Hansen (3), LJ Schultz (2), Dreyke Mendiola (2), Logan Dees (2), and Jonathyn Driscoll (2) also scored, with Oliver Miller, Gabe Reed, Vincent Alguire, Dom Durbin, and Burke Winger rounding out the roster.

 

Team #2:

Led by a 14-point performance by Braxten Ratcliff, the Wolves were in control all game, romping to a 45-18 victory.

The third quarter was a particular killer, as CMS went to the locker room with 17 first-half points, then exploded for 17 more to open the second half.

Les Queen (6), Abel O’Neil (5), Xander Flowers (5), Henry Purdue (4), and Nico Strong (4) helped share the offensive load, with Hayden Maynes (3), Brady Sherman (2), and Brayden Grinstead (2) also filling up the bucket.

Mario Martinez, Mendiola, and Bailey saw floor time as well for the Wolves.

 

Team #1:

Coupeville’s only loss was a close one, with the Wolves trailing just 12-11 after one frame, and up 22-21 at the half.

Unfortunately, the Turks, always a tough foe, rallied in the second half, using a 25-15 run across the final 14 minutes to claim a 46-37 win and salvage a bit of the day.

Wolf big man Diesel Eck topped all Coupeville players with 15 points, while River Simpson chipped in with 11 to provide a strong one-two combo.

Trey Stewart (8) and Kamden Ratcliff (3) were the only other varsity CMS players to make the net jump, with Colton Ashby, Xander Beaman, Gracen Joiner, Jacob Lujan, Darius Stewart, Maverick Walling, and Aiden Wheat also in uniform.

 

What’s next:

Coupeville gets back on the bus for trips to private schools King’s (Nov. 18) and Northshore Christian Academy (Nov. 20) before making its home debut Nov. 25 against Granite Falls.

They’re going to get used to life on the ferry. (RayLynn Ratcliff photo)

Read Full Post »

CMS hoops squads ready to rumble

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , on November 12, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Burke Winger (left) and Luke Blas are ready to … hammer … opposing teams. (Photo courtesy Stephanie Blas)

It’s Basketball Eve.

And yes, that’s bigger than Christmas Eve, you hoops heathens…

“God’s Chosen Sport” kicks off Thursday, with the Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball squad traveling to Sultan for three rumbles, and we go from there.

Now, if you want to see the young Wolves in action on their home floor, you’re going to have to bide your time a bit, as CMS is on the road for its first three matchups and four of its first five.

Coupeville hosts Granite Falls Nov. 25, pops on the bus again, then plays three in a row in Cow Town to end the eight-game season.

Maybe. If the schedule doesn’t get changed. Which, based on history, it likely will.

Ready to run the break. (Julie Wheat photos)

But for now, things are ready to go, with CMS coaches having an astounding 40+ players.

The breakdown is 17 sixth graders, 14 seventh graders, and 12 eighth graders, which allows the Wolves to have three squads, plus a fourth “practice squad” comprised of new-to-the-game players looking to “grow their game, focus on basketball fundamentals, and be a part of something great with this program.”

So, no cuts, build for the future, and when that 4-foot-9 newbie shoots up to become a 6-8 beast in high school, it all pays off for both sides.

Ready to make the net bounce.

With the explosion of players, the school convinced Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Famer (and hardwood assassin) Kassie O’Neil to help out with the practice squad, which will allow CMS coaches Alex Evans, RayLynn Ratcliff, and Jaylen Nitta to focus on coaching squads 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

The four pack of coaches and their players are embracing the program’s new mission statement, as well.

It reads:

Our mission is to cultivate a team environment where grit, gratitude, joy, humility, trust, excellence, and growth are at the forefront of our journey.

We strive to empower each player to reach their full potential both on and off the court, fostering a spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Through dedication and perseverance, we aim to achieve excellence in every game, while embracing the values of respect and integrity.

Together, we grow as athletes and individuals, united in our pursuit of falling in love with the game of basketball.

Ready to clamp down on defense.

As the bus revs, and the shoes start to squeak, here’s a look at the current lineups, though changes may happen going forward.

“We have made it clear that hard work, being a great teammate, showing grit and gratitude could lead to additional other moves as the season progresses,” Ratcliff said.

 

Team #1:

Colton Ashby
Xander Beaman
Diesel Eck
Gracen Joiner
Jacob Lujan
Kamden Ratcliff
River Simpson
Darius Stewart
Trey Stewart
Maverick Walling
Aiden Wheat

 

Team #2:

Xander Flowers
Brayden Grinstead
Mario Martinez
Hayden Maynes
Mica McCloskey
Dreyke Mendiola
Abel O’Neil
Henry Purdue
Les Queen
Braxten Ratcliff
Brady Sherman
Nico Strong

 

Team #3:

Vincent Alguire
Jack Bailey
Luke Blas
Logan Dees
Jonathyn Driscoll
Dom Durbin
Logan Flowers
Alton Hansen
Oliver Miller
Gabe Reed
LJ Schultz
Liam Stoner
Burke Winger

 

Team #4:

Jackson Coxsey
Jonah Dunham
Jack Gustafson
Gabe Ketterling
Rockford Reyes
Henry Tierney
Elijah Williams

Ready to embrace growth.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »