Back row (l to r): Lindsey Roberts, Lauren Grove, Mia Littlejohn, Tiffany Briscoe, Kyla Briscoe, Kailey Kellner. Front: Makana Stone, Kalia Littlejohn, Ema Smith. (Amy King photos)
Stone (30) imparts wisdom to her younger teammates.
The ever-serious Briscoe sisters flank hot-shooting Kellner.
Players rest in the shade between games.
David King was ecstatic.
Having taken nine current and future Coupeville High School girls’ basketball players to La Conner Sunday, the Wolf roundball guru returned with victories, glowing stats and inner serenity.
“The amazing part was what they witnessed. A relaxed, calm and fairly quiet and seated coach!,” King said with a huge laugh. “Now, if I would have only taken the bet a parent tried to make with me when I said I would be calm and seated most of the games…”
With his Wolves running La Conner (27-19) and Friday Harbor (30-18) off the court on a hot early summer day, the CHS coach had little to fret about.
Despite having time and gym space for only one practice before Sunday’s games, Coupeville was locked-in.
Not bad for a team in transition.
While both the Wolf varsity and JV sailed to 9-0 records in Olympic League play in the winter, King has lost six seniors to graduation.
Of the nine who played this weekend, only Makana Stone, Mia Littlejohn and Kailey Kellner played varsity, with Kellner moving up at the end of the season.
But the trio, led by reigning Olympic League MVP Stone, meshed beautifully with JV vets Tiffany Briscoe, Lauren Grove and Kyla Briscoe and incoming freshmen Lindsey Roberts, Ema Smith and Kalia Littlejohn.
“The effort the players brought today was outstanding,” King said. “I would call it amazing in itself; however the effort we saw is what we expected from this group.”
The Wolves opened against always-tough La Conner and came out, as expected, a bit rusty.
That changed quickly, however.
Midway through the first half Coupeville started to get the ball to drop, while clamping down nicely on defense.
Clinging to a 12-9 lead at the break, they pulled off a couple of dandy second-half plays that brought cheer to their coach’s heart.
On the first one Stone rifled a “precision bullet pass” to Tiffany Briscoe in the low block.
“Tiffany got great position,” King said. “Most players it (the pass) would go through their hands and out of bounds. Not on this play; Tiffany made a great catch on a great pass.”
Later, Mia Littlejohn, showing off her point guard skills, drew two defenders in, used a fake to create an opening and skipped a no-look bounce pass to a once-again ever-alert Briscoe.
King also credited the defensive game of Smith (“played a good game, got some big rebounds for us”) and Kellner (“she has stepped up her game defensively, anticipating passes along with playing taller than she is”).
After a two-hour break, and a nap in the shade, the Wolves returned to a gym that resembled a sauna.
The only thing hotter than the building was Stone, who keyed the Wolf attack.
“Makana was a force offensively, but every player stepped up and contributed,” King said. “We made good passes on the perimeter and stepped it up from game one and looked to find our post players inside.”
The Littlejohn sisters ran the offense, with the younger sibling showing a tough side on ‘d’.
“Kalia, being one of the shortest on our team, did a great job with getting some key offensive rebounds,” King said. “She stayed aggressive the whole time on the court.
“Lauren played under control on offense and played her tough on-ball defense,” he added. “Lindsey rebounded well in the game and played aggressive on both ends of the court.
“Kyla, she looked for her shot in both games; this is a big step in the right direction. Her on-ball defense was equal to Lauren’s.”
One special highlight from the second win was seeing the youngest players willing to already step up and make an impact.
Smith and Roberts pulled off near carbon copy plays on which each of them grabbed a defensive rebound and immediately spun and led the fast break, finding an open teammate with their outlet pass.
“Seeing these two young players, along with Kalia, handle the ball with confidence is something that is going to benefit our program for years,” King said.
All nine players scored against La Conner, with seven Wolves hitting against Friday Harbor. Toss in inspired defense (51 rebounds, 16 steals and five blocks over the two games) and it was a balanced, gritty effort.
“Both (assistant coach) Amy (King) and I are pumped with what we saw today,” King said. “The dedication from the nine players from today and the three that couldn’t make it today is exciting for us as coaches.
“What they are gaining with the open gyms we have and the 10 heading to camp in a few weeks is invaluable,” he added. “This group wants to get into the gym, they want to work on improving as individuals and as a team.
“They are going to be ahead of the curve when the high school season starts in November!”
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