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“We’re excited to keep building!”

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School, tagged CMS Wolves, girls basketball, Makana Stone, season debut, South Whidbey on February 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Kennedy O’Neill, seen here last season, is a key veteran player for the CMS hoops program. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The building process begins.

While the Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball teams lost their opening games at South Whidbey Wednesday, Wolf coaches Brooke Crowder and Makana Stone came away pleased with a lot of what they saw.

“We had some really good hustle and effort – a great baseline for us to work forwards from,” Stone said.

South Whidbey came into the tip-off games with a lot more experience and floor time among their assembled players, and it showed at times. But that is something CMS can improve on.

“We forced our offense on both teams and struggled to stick to our defensive principles,” Stone said. “Of course, some of that can be chalked up to first game jitters, some of it to being a new team finding our footing.

“After the games, the team is ready and eager to dial into upcoming practices!”

Coupeville’s Level 1 team was limited to just six points, with Kaleigha Millison banking in five, while Kennedy O’Neill netted a free throw.

Cameron Van Dyke, Elizabeth Marshall, Aubrey Flowers, Sophia Batterman, Cassandra Powers, Emma Cushman, Zayne Roos, and Allison Powers also saw floor time for the Wolves.

The Level 2 squad made the nets jump at a much better rate, with six different players recording points.

Annaliese Powers knocked down six to pace her squad, with Finley Helm (4), Hazel Goldman (4), Savannah Coxsey (2), Sabrina Judnich (2), and Emma Green (1) keeping the scorekeeper’s pen busy.

Claire Lachnit, Addison Jacobson, Selah Rivera, and KeeAyra Brown rounded out the roster, while Coupeville’s #3 team had the day off as South Whidbey only fields two teams.

After opening on the road, Coupeville is at home for most of the rest of the month.

The Wolves host Sultan (Feb. 17), Granite Falls (Feb. 19), and Northshore Christian Academy (Feb. 25) before heading off-Island again.

As Coupeville goes forward, Crowder and Stone will continue to focus on growth and improvement.

“We will be a hardworking team this season – building a strong team culture, step by step,” Stone said.

“We’re excited to keep building and to fully embrace the way of the WolfPack!”

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CMS spike coach leaves gym

Posted in Middle School, Volleyball, tagged Brazil, CMS Wolves, Cris Matochi, resignation, volleyball on January 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Cris Matochi is ready for his close-up. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

This one stings.

Cris Matochi, the dynamic leader of Coupeville Middle School volleyball, has tendered his resignation.

The Brazilian-born coach, who has greatly energized the program since his hire in 2021, will officially depart his post after the school board approves the change at its meeting this coming Thursday, Jan. 30.

Matochi, who is married to CHS volleyball coach Cory Whitmore, lights up the gym with his love of the game and of life.

A high-caliber player in his home country, he balanced coaching at CMS with work as an Environmental Health Specialist for the Island County Health Department.

His pre-Coupeville coaching career included stints at various colleges, and work with high-level volleyball academies and national travel teams.

But while he was likely very over-qualified for his current gig, Matochi never let his past success get in the way of connecting with his current small-town proteges.

He preached love of the game, and a commitment to hard work, while working with fellow coaches such as Raven Vick and Kristina Hooks and got the most out of his players.

Among the most enthusiastic of sideline mentors, he will be greatly missed.

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New CMS hoops coach a Stone-cold winner

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School, tagged Brooke Crowder, CMS Wolves, girls basketball, Makana Stone, new hire on January 15, 2025| 1 Comment »

Makana Stone drills a jumper while playing pro ball overseas. (Photo property of Erik Berglund)

She’s coming home.

Pending approval from the school board, Wolf hoops legend Makana Stone has been hired as a Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball coach.

The move was announced Wednesday by Athletic Director Brad Sherman.

Stone replaces Bennett Richter, who stepped down to spend more time with his family, and she’ll join Brooke Crowder on the CMS sideline.

Practice for a new season of middle school girls’ basketball kicks off Monday, Jan. 27, with the first game tipping off Feb. 12.

Stone joins other CHS alumni such as Scout Smith, Megan Richter, and Sherman in coaching basketball at her alma mater.

She is the first, however, to make the jump from playing professional basketball to teaching the sport in Cow Town.

After stellar runs on the floor at CHS, Whitman College, and Loughborough University, Stone earned paychecks for putting the ball in the hoop in England, Norway, and the Netherlands.

The former Wolf ace has also worked extensively coaching younger players, both overseas and through clinics in America, with visits to Coupeville included in that work.

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CMS girls await hardwood tipoff

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School, tagged Cascade League, CMS Wolves, girls basketball, schedule on January 2, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Nothing but net. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

New year, new hardwood opportunities.

Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball kicks off practice Monday, Jan. 27, with games set to run between February and March.

The eight-game schedule as it sits today:

Wed-Feb. 12 — @ South Whidbey — (3:30)
Mon-Feb. 17 — Sultan — (3:15)
Wed-Feb. 19 — Granite Falls — (3:15)
Tue-Feb. 25 — Northshore Christian — (3:15)
Thur-Feb. 27 — @ King’s — (3:15)
Tue-Mar. 4 — @ Lakewood — (3:15)
Thur-Mar. 6 — @ Sultan — (3:15)
Tue-Mar. 11 — South Whidbey — (3:15)

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