Ema Smith scored 15 Wednesday, including hitting a trio of three-balls, as Coupeville’s varsity savaged arch-rival South Whidbey. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
For a second, it was close. And then it wasn’t.
Busting free from an 8-8 tie after one quarter Wednesday, the Coupeville High School varsity girls basketball squad went on an inspired run.
With every part of their game in over-drive, the Wolves closed on a 42-7 run over the final three quarters, blistering host South Whidbey 50-15.
The win, coming in the North Sound Conference opener for both teams, lifts CHS to 1-0 in league play, 2-4 overall.
It also puts them in a three-way tie with King’s and Granite Falls atop the (very early) conference standings.
The 50 points are the most a Wolf varsity girls hoops team has scored since they dropped 56 on Klahowya Feb. 6, 2016.
That game was Makana Stone’s Senior Night, and the future Whitman College star went off for 27 points and 21 rebounds.
Wednesday night, two current seniors led the charge, as Wolf captains Lindsey Roberts and Ema Smith popped for 15 points apiece.
Coming off a game against Orcas Island where they squandered a second-half lead and came up just short of a win, the rout of South Whidbey was a huge bounce-back for the Wolves.
“We had a game plan for tonight, like we do for every game we prepare for,” Coupeville coach David King said. “We had a great practice yesterday and came out and executed our plan.
“As a coach, that’s what you like to see and all I can ask for.”
More than just a mere win, it was chock full of bonuses.
Coupeville has struggled when traveling to Langley in recent seasons, something King wanted to change. Also, getting solid play from the top of the roster to the end of the bench is huge.
“Our senior captains led the charge and the rest of the players all contributed in one way or another,” King said. “This game will foster our confidence moving forward, especially if we play like we did in all facets of the game (offense, defense, rebounding and hustle).”
The game was actually a nail-biter in the early going, as Lexi Starets-Foote pumped in six first quarter-points and South Whidbey went to the first break tied 8-8.
Roberts was getting her way in the paint, working down low for a pair of power buckets in the early going, but the game hardly seemed like it would be a blowout.
And then, just like that, Coupeville flipped a switch, and did so big-time.
Inflicting a withering defense on the Falcons, the Wolves held their foes to just three field goals across the game’s final three quarters, with none coming from Starets-Foote.
The key was Coupeville’s press, which shredded every last nerve South Whidbey players had, forcing multiple turnovers and giving the Wolves ample opportunity to run ‘n gun.
With Roberts slapping home nine points in the quarter, CHS went on a game-busting 18-3 tear in the second frame and didn’t let up from there.
The Wolves pulled off the rare goose egg in the third quarter, romping to a 15-0 advantage, before coasting home with a 9-4 mini-surge in the final frame.
“Our defense and press throughout the game set the tone for us,” King said.
Coupeville finished the game with 22 steals, snatched 34 rebounds, including 20 on the offensive glass, and forced South Whidbey into numerous mistakes.
The Falcons committed two shot-clock violations and a five-second inbound violation thanks to the constant Wolf pressure.
“It was great to see the pursuit for every rebound,” King said. “We took care of the ball and shared it as well. Only 12 turnovers, and we had 11 assists.
“Offensively we moved the ball well and made the extra pass to get a better look,” he added. “The effort we played with set the tone for the whole game.”
King praised Hannah Davidson for stepping up against South Whidbey’s #1 scorer, “doing a fantastic job keeping (Starets-Foote) from hurting us on the offensive end.”
Scout Smith showed off her ninja hands, pilfering a team-high five steals, while Chelsea Prescott’s never-say-die attitude on D was symbolic of how intense the Wolves played.
“One particular play stood out for me,” King said. “South Whidbey had a breakaway fast break, but Chelsea never gave up on the play despite being five to eight feet behind the player dribbling towards a layup.
“Chelsea’s hustle allowed her to catch the player out front and prevented a basket,” he added. “That one play was just one of many we had defensively.”
Coupeville spread its offensive bonanza out, with eight of 11 players in uniform scoring.
Ema Smith’s 15 points, which included a trio of three-balls, is her varsity career-high, while Roberts used her 15 to rise two more spots on the CHS girls basketball career scoring chart.
Now sitting at #28 all-time with 351 points, she passed Kailey Kellner (339) and Tracy Taylor (350) Wednesday, while moving within a basket of Amy Mouw (353).
Scout Smith added five, Tia Wurzrainer, Avalon Renninger and Mollie Bailey went for four apiece, Davidson knocked in two and Prescott swished a free throw.
It was Bailey’s first career varsity points, and the sophomore spark-plug is in hot pursuit of the family scoring title.
Having passed dad Rusty (three career varsity points), Mollie is chasing sisters McKayla (6) and McKenzie (17).
Prescott, who also had three steals and a team-high four assists, led Coupeville on the boards, yanking down six caroms.
She got plenty of support, as all 11 Wolves had at least one rebound, from Ja’Kenya Hoskins (5), Roberts (5) and Nicole Laxton (4) down to freshman Izzy Wells (1).
While the win, the time and place it came, and the way it was achieved, are all huge, the Wolves want to stay focused as they move forward.
CHS travels to Concrete (0-6) Friday for a non-conference game, then returns home Dec. 18 to face Sultan (0-1, 2-5) in its second league clash.
“It’s one game and a game we can build on moving forward,” King said. “A good blueprint for us to be successful as the season progresses.”
