Lauren Grove is one of four seniors on the CHS girls’ basketball squad. (John Fisken photos)
Of the 11 girls who went to state last year, nine return this season.
Kailey Kellner is Coupeville’s top returning scorer.
The bigger the success, the bigger the target on your back.
It’s a fact Coupeville High School girls’ basketball coach David King fully embraces.
“This year games will be battles every time teams meet,” he said. “It’s going to come down to who can execute and play their game.”
The Wolves are the undisputed queens of the 1A Olympic League, having gone a perfect 18-0 in varsity games on their way to back-to-back league titles.
Last year, they went a step further, knocking off Seattle Christian in a playoff game and advancing to the regional round of the state tourney for the first time in a decade.
But, with that success, and the departure of two-time league MVP Makana Stone, who piled up 1000+ points and rebounds during her stellar four-year run, teams will be gunning for Coupeville every night.
“At the beginning of the season we will need to find our way and continue to find our identity as a team without Makana,” King said. “The players have been working very hard since last season, realizing they are talented and can be a very good team.
“Now with the success and experience of last year, along with the success of the fall teams, we are ready to play as one and continue that success.”
While Stone’s graduation leaves a huge hole, she was last year’s only senior, allowing the Wolves to enter this season with considerable depth.
Nine of the 11 players who were on the roster for their state game against Cashmere return (senior Skyler Lawrence has shifted to being a team manager as she deals with a shoulder injury) and the Wolves have picked up three valuable newcomers.
Junior wing Mikayla Elfrank, sophomore point guard Kalia Littlejohn and senior post Charlotte Langille, a newcomer to CHS, are all back on the court after taking last season off.
They’ll vie for playing time with returning seniors Kailey Kellner, Lauren Grove and Tiffany Briscoe, juniors Mia Littlejohn, Lauren Rose, Kyla Briscoe and Allison Wenzel and sophomores Lindsey Roberts and Sarah Wright.
Kellner (147 points) and Mia Littlejohn (146) were Coupeville’s #2 and #3 scorers during last year’s 16-6 run.
While he doesn’t necessarily expect anyone on this season’s squad to match the 427 points Stone threw down as a senior, King feels secure that he can get contributions from everyone on the roster.
“From top to bottom the drop off, if any, will be very minimal to who starts or who comes off the bench,” he said. “We have 7-9 players that could legitimately be a starter.
“We are athletic and have both speed and quickness,” King added. “We are competitive and understand to be successful it’s team ball over ‘me’ ball.”
As always, the round-ball guru is preaching hard work on defense will pay off with easier opportunities on offense.
“We have been a good defensive team over the years,” King said “This year we are looking to increase our effort and intensity to a higher level.
“It all starts with a willingness to buy into the defensive end and we have that.”
Coupeville has also been hard at work on its shooting, with 16 of its 24 players attending a recent clinic run by King’s High School coach Dan Taylor.
“We have already seen an improvement and confidence in our shooting drills,” King said. “It was good to have the younger players there from middle school as well.”
The Wolves have also been working on gaining an ability to break pressure defenses, an important factor if the program wants to continue its recent upward trend.
“Maintaining our composure is something we are shooting for,” King said. “When we play our game and dictate the pace, we play confident and overall have a better game.”
Goal #1 is to defend the league title.
To do so, they’ll have to get past Port Townsend, Klahowya and Chimacum, all of which should be as strong or stronger than last season.
After that, the Wolves want to make another run at districts and return to state, but this time come away victorious, reigniting the success the program had at the big dance in the early-to-mid 2000s.
King talked with assistant coach (and wife) Amy in the off-season and the duo set up a plan to help both the Wolf players and themselves continue their ascent.
“We have, in the past, evaluated ourselves as coaches,” David King said. “But this summer we took a closer look at who we are and what adjustments we needed to make to take the next step forward in helping our players and program.
“What we are asking of the players, I am asking of myself and of Amy as coaches.
“Each one of us, players and coaches, need to compete each day and be willing to put the team first,” he added. “If we do that, it is going to be a successful season.”
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