Wolf junior Lindsey Roberts offers offensive pop and defensive intensity to a basketball squad seeking a fourth-straight league title. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Kalia Littlejohn brings speed, scrappy defense and a never-say-die attitude to the floor every night.
“I still believe we are the team to beat.”
David King has been coaching long enough to see his share of both highs and lows. While he knows this year’s Coupeville High School girls squad is a team in transition, he’s ready for another battle.
After making a run to the state tourney two years ago, the Wolves returned to the district playoffs as Olympic League champs in 2016-2017, only to be unceremoniously bounced.
To which King says, shake it off.
“With improving daily and playing our best, we are gunning for the playoffs and taking the top spot in our league,” he said. “Last year we made it to the double-elimination round of districts, didn’t play well in either game.
“With time to reflect, we have a better understanding of what we need to do to prepare if we are in the position again.”
In the short run of the 1A Olympic League, which is entering its fourth season of basketball, Coupeville’s girls have been the undisputed big, bad beast.
Three straight conference titles and a 27-0 mark against rivals Port Townsend, Klahowya and Chimacum earns the Wolves a big target on their back. But it also increases their eagerness to defend and preserve that streak.
“The gap has closed with the other teams in our league,” King said. “Each team has some very good players, us included.
“At that point it comes down to the strengths you have as a team and how you can conquer and/or minimize your weaknesses.”
Port Townsend, led by senior Kaitlyn Meek, “has always played us tough and can challenge for the top spot” while Chimacum “battles every game and doesn’t quit until the final buzzer.”
Add in Klahowya, which “is a good defensive team, is always up for a challenge and plays us well,” and Coupeville has to bring its best game each night.
That shouldn’t be an issue, as talent runs deep on the Wolf bench.
While CHS lost key players – Lauren Grove, Kailey Kellner and Tiffany Briscoe graduated, Mia Littlejohn transferred and Lauren Rose is taking the season off — the Wolves retain considerable strength.
Juniors Lindsey Roberts and Kalia Littlejohn and seniors Mikayla Elfrank and Kyla Briscoe are the top returning veterans, while senior Allison Wenzel, juniors Sarah Wright and Ema Smith and sophomore Scout Smith are expected to play major roles.
Roberts and Elfrank, both entering their third season on the Wolf varsity, boast the most playing time of any returning veterans.
“Both will bounce between the wing and post,” King said. “They are our better post defenders, along with having the length and speed to guard very well on the perimeter.”
The duo will also see some time at point guard, a slot where Littlejohn and Briscoe will also be called upon.
“Kalia came out and made great strides last year for our team,” King said. “This year, she has a year under her belt, more confidence and is comfortable. The obvious choice is having her be our spark plug from the point guard position.
“Kyla is right up there with the other three; she was slowed last year with returning from an injury,” he added. “She’ll mainly be a wing-type player, but can lead us from the point guard position and also play the post when called upon.”
With his core four all able to bounce from position to position, and handle each role’s intricacies, King is afforded the luxury of being able to mix and match at will.
“The great thing about this foursome is that they have become very versatile and excel in each position they play,” he said. “They all can play multiple positions with minimal to no drop off at any of the positions.”
Sophomore Avalon Renninger will be a swing player, pulling time on both varsity and JV, while several other Wolves have a strong shot at eventually joining her in a similar role.
Juniors Ashlie Shank, Maddy Hilkey and Nicole Lester, sophomore Tia Wurzrainer and freshman Chelsea Prescott form that group.
“They’ll start out on JV (with coach Amy King), with the opportunity to showcase their skills and talent,” David King said. “There will be opportunities for each to earn and possibly become a swing player as the season progresses.
“All of them need to get the valuable playing time on the JV court to improve and hone their skills,” he added. “Right now, with eight to nine varsity players ahead of them, it would be hard to get playing time on a varsity court.”
Rounding out the Wolf roster are freshmen Mollie Bailey, Heidi Meyers, Genna Wright and Kylie Chernikoff and foreign exchange student Julia Garcia Onoro.
Maddie Vondrak is team manager.
“What this group lacks in experience (being freshman or never playing before), they are showing they make it up with hustle and determination,” King said. “They aren’t afraid to step in and give 100% effort in each drill.
“Mollie and Genna went to camp with us, which helps their learning curve at this stage,” he added. “All of them are fitting in really well and show a willingness to learn and get better.”
As both the varsity and JV prep for a new campaign, Wolf coaches have several areas they stress.
“To start the season our main goal is to get familiar with ourselves as a team,” King said. “Understand each other’s strengths and recognize how we can help each other by putting ourselves in positions to be successful. Play to our strengths.
“Every team starts at a certain level on day one,” he added. “Every team then looks to improve and get better each day. We are no exception.
“By the time the end of the season rolls around we want to be playing our best basketball.”
Some areas of focus include building mental toughness, which will help come playoff time, and learning patience on offense, which will help the Wolves capitalize on their opponents mistakes.
“Each year we seem to struggle with playing too fast, which in turn is out of control,” King said with a wry smile. “A team can play fast, but if it’s not controlled it leads to turnovers, bad shots and fouls. I like the fast pace, we just need to get better at playing fast and when to pull it back.
“We preach that mistakes will happen on every possession,” he added. “It’s the team that can move past that, that has the advantage. Learn from it, don’t quit and move forward.
“We are also working on players recognizing what the other teams are giving us and taking advantage of that.”
While Coupeville will have to figure out a way to replace the scoring punch offered by the players no longer in uniform, King likes the makeup of his current players, and the intangibles they bring to the floor.
“The players love to play defense and be disruptive and, top to bottom, many of the players are capable of being able to play two or three different positions,” King said. “We may not be the tallest team, but our athletic ability and overall team speed is second to none.
“Our post and wing players aren’t afraid of contact and are willing to do the dirty work and play strong in the post area.”
The greatest intangible, though, might be their chemistry.
“The team has a positive outlook with their teammates,” King said. “They are a family and are willing to help each other and have a great attitude.”
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