Izzy Wells was one of nine Wolves to score Friday in a 57-9 win. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
They started strong, then finished even stronger.
Sparked by a mad dog defense which forced turnover after turnover, the Coupeville High School varsity girls basketball team decimated visiting Darrington Friday night.
By the time things were done, the Wolves, who held the Loggers to just a single point in the second half, waltzed away with a 57-9 win in their Northwest 2B/1B League opener.
Coupeville improves to 1-0 in conference action, 2-1 overall, with another NWL clash set for Saturday.
The Wolves travel to Orcas Island for an afternoon game, their first road trip of the season.
The CHS girls actually play their next four games away from home, not returning to their own gym until Jan. 4.
So, before they went, the Wolves decided to dazzle local fans with one of the most dominant performances the program has delivered in recent times.
Nine of 10 players in uniform scored, with six of them tallying at least eight points apiece.
The buckets started dropping almost right from the tip, with Wolf point guard Maddie Georges flippin’ the net on a three-ball from the left side to kick things off.
Freshman Savina Wells, who used her long arms to pilfer numerous passes against a frazzled Darrington squad, immediately followed up with a steal and breakaway bucket, and the rout was on.
The Loggers didn’t get on the board until almost midway through the opening period, and the Wolves cruised to the first break up 12-4.
Georges rippled the nets with a second three-ball, this one from the corner, while Izzy Wells slapped home a layup after all four other Wolves touched the ball — sending the orb flying around the arc.
In between the buckets, which included Abby Mulholland’s first varsity basket, there was also a little intrigue.
Coupeville was whistled for a technical foul for having a uniform number incorrectly entered in the book, and while Darrington missed both free throws, CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith had a huge smile afterwards.
The man who turned Wolf girls basketball into a powerhouse in the ’90s is now an interested spectator as daughter Megan Smith works her first season as head coach of the varsity team.
Wife Cherie, who was Willie’s assistant back in the day, has returned to the bench to work with their daughter, and pops was giddy after seeing his progeny earn her first T.
“Took me eight games to get one! Only took her three!!” he said with a huge grin, then strolled off happily humming to himself.
Back on the court, Megan’s team could do virtually no wrong after the inadvertent tech.
A 14-0 run to end the second frame pushed the halftime margin to 28-8, with the buckets set up by a stern defensive push.
Georges was wheeling and dealing, playing give and go with Lyla Stuurmans, then driving and dishing, the ball slipping past defenders and landing right on teammate Gwen Gustafson’s waiting fingertips.
If Darrington had a few happy moments in the first half, the Loggers had zip to be grateful about after halftime.
Coupeville ripped off 21 straight points to open the second half, gave up a single free throw, then tossed in another eight points as a running clock raced to 0:00.
Nearly all the Wolves took turns handling the scoring load, with the fab frosh netting the two prettiest late-game buckets.
Stuurmans rolled hard against the defense, knocking down a sweet running hook shot, while Savina Wells drilled the bottom out of the net on a long jumper which was a centimeter away from being a three-ball.
In the end, the scoring was extremely balanced for the Wolves.
A defensive buzzsaw who crackles with energy when on the floor, Stuurmans can also make the nets jump, and with 10 points Friday, she beat Darrington by herself.
Shaw and Mulholland were right on her heels, banking in nine apiece, while Georges, Gustafson, and Savina Wells each went off for eight.
Carolyn Lhamon (2), Izzy Wells (2), and Ja’Kenya Hoskins (1) rounded out the offensive attack, while freshman Katie Marti made her varsity hoops debut.
Each of the Wolves hit the boards hard, but Hoskins was a particular delight on this night, ripping balls free, shredding the very psyche of her rivals, leaving them to wallow in an everlasting puddle of tears.
JV has night off:
Darrington only goes one team deep, so the Coupeville JV were just fans Friday night.
Coupeville Sports 