Chase Anderson flies in for a bucket. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
New year, old problem.
The calendar has rolled into 2025, but a season-long cold spell at the free throw line continues to haunt the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball team.
Way down the road in Wahkiakum Saturday, the Wolves netted just six of 18 at the charity stripe, leaving way too many points on the rim in what became a nail-biting 60-59 loss.
The non-conference defeat, coming against a dangerous foe, drops Coupeville to 2-8 on the season.
Brad Sherman’s squad still has plenty to play for, however, with eight of its next nine games coming against Northwest 2B/1B League rivals.
The Wolves, 1-1 in conference play, travel to Friday Harbor next Tuesday, Jan. 7, before hosting La Conner in a Friday night rumble.
The Wolves return to their own gym Jan. 10 for a major conference rumble with La Conner.
While Coupeville’s win/loss record isn’t what had been hoped for, five of the eight losses have been by single digits.
Heading into the heart of conference play, free throws loom huge.
The Wolves have consistently gotten to the line more than their rivals this season but have largely failed to take advantage of that advantage.
Saturday was a perfect example, with CHS getting to the stripe 18 times, while Wahkiakum only had 10 free throws, netting five.
Coupeville shot 33% at the line, in a contest where one made shot sends the game to overtime, and two gives the visitors a win.
Even with their free throw issues, the Wolves kept the game close until the final moments.
Chase Anderson and Hurlee Bronec combined to score 14 in the first quarter as CHS played its hosts to a 17-17 stalemate.
Down 31-29 at the half, the Wolves surged in the third quarter, with six different players tallying points during a 20-12 run.
That staked Coupeville to a 49-43 lead heading into the fourth, but Wahkiakum put together its own 17-7 streak to turn the tide of the game.
Trailing by four with mere seconds to play, the Wolves got a three-ball from Anderson to slash the deficit to one, but time ran out on the guys in red and black.
Anderson finished with a game-high 23 points, while twin towers Hurlee and Hunter Bronec both banked in 10 points in support.
Landon Roberts (6), Jack Porter (5), Malachi Somes (3), and Camden Glover (2) also scored.
Both of the Battlin’ Bronec Brothers hit personal milestones in the first game of 2025.
With his 10 points, Hunter reaches exactly 150 for his varsity career, while Hurlee cracks the 100-point club, sitting with 107 and counting.
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