There was action on the court and action off the court, as Aiden Crimmins spins a ball while sitting on the bench. (Jodi Crimmins photo)
CMS coach Sarah Stuurmans talks to her “wild men” — Joey Lippo (11), Cameron Toomey Stout (hidden), Paul Gallahar (1), Ethan Loy (3) and Luke Merriman (far right). (Jodi Crimmins photo)
One time could be an accident. Twice and the kid is a pro.
Coupeville Middle School 7th grader Luke Merriman is far from the tallest player on the basketball floor, even with his faux Mohawk adding an inch or two. But he is devilishly quick, utterly fearless at driving the lane against the big boys and a crack shot from long distance.
That last part was given stunning proof Monday afternoon, as Merriman hit not one, but two buzzer-beating three point bombs in a 49-34 loss to visiting King’s.
Making them even more impressive, they weren’t desperation heaves, but well-timed and superbly-executed plays, as Merriman sliced his defender off at the knees with pinpoint dribbling, then popped up and buried his shots, catching nothing but the bottom of the net.
Part of a 16-point performance for the Wolf guard, the bombs spurred a huge rally for Coupeville. With many of their starters out due to missed practices over the Thanskgiving break, the Wolves fell behind 32-2, then cut the deficit in half with a ferocious second-half comeback.
Playing the style coach Sarah Stuurmans teaches — “aggressive and physical” — Coupeville went at the hoop like wild men after they came out of the halftime locker room. Merriman and Paul Gallahar slashed through the paint, with Merriman knocking one larger opponent halfway across the floor while retaining his cool and draining his shot, while big man Ethan Loy led an assault on the boards.
Loy pulled off back-to-back full-court sprints, taking a rebound and bringing the ball up himself, pounding past the stragglers on defense as he blew by them for uncontested layups.
The only thing that slowed down Coupeville was the clock, which ran out before the Wolves could complete their staggering comeback. Give them another seven-minute quarter, however, and things could have been very, very different.
It was an afternoon of big-time buzzer beaters, as the 7th grade JV game came down to a final shot. That one, launched by a King’s player with a tick or two left on the clock, knotted the game at 13 and saved the Knights the embarrassment of blowing a lead.
Despite six points from Ethan Spark, the Wolf JV squad trailed 9-6 at the end of one quarter, then came out with a stifling defense and scored seven unanswered points. James Vidoni and Jake Hoagland put back in rebounds, staking Coupeville to a 13-9 lead with under a minute to play.
A free throw sliced the lead to three, then came the big bomb that caused the King’s cheering section to explode in much tears and screams of joy.
Then, an awkward moment, as a basketball game ended in a tie, as apparently middle schoolers can’t be trusted to play overtime.
Either that, or the refs were just eager to move on and get the Luke Merriman show on the road. Which would be understandable.
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