Coupeville Sports

“We’re excited to keep building!”

February 14, 2025 by David Svien

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!”

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School | Tagged CMS Wolves, girls basketball, Makana Stone, season debut, South Whidbey | Leave a Comment »

Slow start, ferocious finish

February 13, 2025 by David Svien

Teagan Calkins loves to win. (Parker Hammons photo)

It took a moment or two, but then everything clicked into place.

Getting revved up after a lackluster start Thursday, the Coupeville High School varsity girls’ basketball team turned on the offensive fireworks and romped to a win in its playoff opener.

From five points down to 17 up, the Wolves rode the rollercoaster before exiting with a 45-36 win over visiting Auburn Adventist Academy.

The win lifts CHS to 9-10 on the season and sends them to the semifinals of the double-elimination District 1/2 tourney.

Megan Richter’s squad heads to Mount Vernon Christian Saturday, and win or lose, will host its third playoff bout.

Upset top-ranked MVC and the Wolves advance to the title game, set for the CHS gym Feb. 20.

Lose Saturday, and Coupeville hosts Friday Harbor — which it has beat twice this season — Feb. 18 in a loser-out game.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4590

Thursday’s tilt started nicely, with CHS senior Lyla Stuurmans banking in the first bucket of the game.

Then, things went sideways for the Wolves.

Shots rimmed out, passes sailed over outstretched fingertips, and Auburn slowly crawled out to a 7-2 lead as the first break neared.

Coupeville needed a spark, and it found one in the magic shooting fingers of Mia Farris.

The Wolf senior beat the defense, and the clock, knocking down a pullup jumper with three ticks left on the clock in the first quarter, and the comeback fuse was lit.

And how, as Coupeville suddenly found its offensive groove, going on a 20-6 rampage in the second frame.

It started with Teagan Calkins slashing down the baseline for a leaning layup and closed with Farris converting an offensive rebound into a second-chance bucket with … wait for it … three ticks left on the clock.

Truly “Mia the Magnificent,” marinating in her moment.

Lyla Stuurmans, kind of a legend. (Bailey Thule photo)

In between those two buckets, Coupeville got big plays from Tenley Stuurmans — netting three free throws after being fouled while shooting a three-ball — and big sis Lyla.

The elder Stuurmans, who is closing her run as the only girl in school history to play five seasons of varsity basketball, snapped the net on a trey which gave her precisely 250 career points at that moment.

The pass which set up the historic three-ball? It was delivered by Tenley Stuurmans.

Sparked by an opportunistic defense which created a ton of loose balls and second-chance shots, the Wolves rambled into the halftime locker room with a 24-13 lead and a strut in their collective steps.

To which Auburn Adventist declared, “We’re not dead just yet.”

The visitors hit back-to-back three-balls as part of an 8-0 surge to open the third, cutting the deficit down to 24-21 and hope briefly flickered for their fans.

But the Wolves weren’t having it.

Not missing a beat, Coupeville immediately rallied for its own 13-0 run, with five different players scoring, before capping the quarter with a layup from Madison McMillan.

Which sank through the net with … three ticks left on the clock … making for an uncanny run of quarter-ending buzzer-beaters from the Wolves.

Coupeville eventually stretched the advantage all the way out to 17 at 43-26 in the fourth quarter, before Auburn rallied late to get the final score back down to a more-reasonable margin.

For the only time all night, the Wolves did NOT end a quarter with a buzzer-beater, electing just to dribble out the final seconds as their fans and classmates celebrated.

Mia Farris prepares to pick apart the defense. (Bailey Thule photo)

Calkins led the way with a team-high 12 points, while Tenley Stuurmans (9), Lyla Stuurmans (7), Farris (6), McMillan (6), Haylee Armstrong (3), and Katie Marti (2) also scored.

Defensive dynamos Jada Heaton and Danica Strong rounded out the rotation, blitzing Auburn shooters and making them flinch all game.

Posted in Girls Basketball | Tagged Auburn Adventist Academy, bi-districts, CHS Wolves, girls basketball, playoffs, Teagan Calkins | Leave a Comment »

Balanced scoring, feisty defense spark playoff win

February 13, 2025 by David Svien

Jack Porter delivers presents to the hoop. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Third time was still a charm.

Powered by a balanced scoring attack and a ferocious defensive surge, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball team opened the playoffs Thursday by winning against a familiar foe.

With three Wolves providing double-digit scoring, and a fourth missing by just a single point, Brad Sherman’s squad bounced visiting Friday Harbor 43-36.

With the win, Coupeville gets to 8-12 on the season and advances to the semifinals of the double-elimination District 1/2 tourney.

The Wolves hit the road Saturday to play top-seeded Mount Vernon Christian, before returning to Cow Town for playoff game #3.

Upset MVC, and Coupeville plays in the Bi-District title game Feb. 20 on its home floor, with a trip to state at stake.

Lose to the Hurricanes, and the Wolves host either Orcas Island or Summit Atlas Feb. 18 in a loser-out game.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4588

Thursday’s playoff rumble was the third meeting this season between Coupeville and Friday Harbor, with the Wolves winning by four points in both game #1 and #2.

This time around, CHS flirted with a 10-point lead twice, controlled the action for most of the 32-minute running time, and never flinched from the spotlight.

Even when leading scorer Chase Anderson hurt his foot less than a minute into play and had to be tended to on the sideline.

While the junior net burner was being taped up, the Wolves spread the offensive love between Hurlee Bronec, Landon Roberts, and Jack Porter, bolting out to a 7-4 lead.

Anderson immediately had an impact the moment he returned to the court, busting through the Friday Harbor defense for a three-point play the hard way.

Taking a pass from Bronec, a half-second after a Wolf steal, he crashed hard to the hoop, slapped the ball home, then sauntered to the free throw line and drained the charity shot he was awarded for being smashed around the head and shoulders.

Anderson returned the favor to the Bronec family, feeding Hurlee’s twin brother Hunter for a bucket off another steal, and CHS had a lead it would never relinquish,

Up 14-9 at the first break, the Wolves opened the second quarter with a savage display of defensive intensity.

“Stop touching my basketball!!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The Battlin’ Bronec Brothers delivered back-to-back booming blocked shots, making the paint a no-fly zone for the visitors.

With Porter raining down buckets, and Anderson drilling a three-ball from the right side, Coupeville shoved the lead out to nine points, then went to the halftime break with a 25-18 advantage.

With the defense continuing to come up big — Camden Glover was a beast on the boards and fighting for loose balls — the Wolves threatened to turn the game into a blowout.

But Friday Harbor’s hardwood aces still had some fight left in them, carving a double-digit deficit all the way back down to just 32-30 late in the third.

Enter the Battlin’ Bronec Brothers and exit any doubts.

Hurlee (left) and Hunter, the Battlin’ Bronec Brothers. (CHS Yearbook Staff photo)

Hunter and Hurlee combined to go on their own game-busting 9-3 run across the final minute of the third frame and a major chunk of the fourth, and the deed was done.

Anderson became the first non-Bronec to score across seven minutes and change, banking in a jumper, before Friday Harbor nailed one last futile three-ball.

Sherman kept it lean ‘n mean, with a seven-man rotation on this night, and everyone contributed.

Hurlee Bronec, Porter, and Anderson each scored 10 points, with Hunter Bronec banging away for nine and Landon Roberts chipping in with four.

Porter, who began the game with 149 career varsity points, cracked the 150-point club, while Hurlee Bronec needs just one point against Mount Vernon to reach 250.

Glover, who made life miserable for Friday Harbor’s big men, and scrappy guard Malachi Somes rounded out the rotation, both delivering key performances in supporting roles.

Posted in Boys Basketball | Tagged bi-districts, Boys Basketball, CHS Wolves, Friday Harbor, playoffs | Leave a Comment »

Your wallet or your life!

February 13, 2025 by David Svien

“They want you to pay how much???” (Bailey Thule photo)

Your wallet belongs to them.

Want to watch Coupeville High School basketball teams open the playoffs Thursday at home? Get your dollar bills (or credit card) ready.

Ticket prices always go up during the postseason, since more people are dipping into the funds.

But you can get a 2-for-1 deal.

Pay for the boys’ game versus Friday Harbor (5:00 tip) and stay for the girls clash with Auburn Adventist Academy at 7:00 without forking over any more moola.

What you can expect Thursday:

$8.00 — Adults and high school students without an ASB card

$6.00 — High school/middle school students with an ASB card

$6.00 — Senior citizens (62+)

$6.00 — Grade school (K-5)

Free — Children 5 and under

Tickets can be purchased in person with cash at CHS, or online (with processing fee) at:

https://gofan.co/event/3206590?schoolId=WA86277&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=WA_wiaa

Posted in Basketball | Tagged Basketball, CHS Wolves, GoFan, playoffs, ticket prices | Leave a Comment »

Gebhard, canine companion shine on big stage

February 12, 2025 by David Svien

Gabriella Gebhard stands tall at the Westminster Dog Show in New York. (Photos courtesy Stephanie Gebhard)

It’s the biggest show of the year.

The annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is in its 149th edition and returned to the white-hot spotlight of Madison Square Garden for the first time in five years.

Among the competitors, and making a return trip, was Coupeville High School senior Gabriella Gebhard.

The accomplished dog handler was accompanied by Everest (Set’r Ridge’s Climbing to the Top), who she whelped, trained, and groomed since birth.

Gebhard has been one of the top Juniors in the country over the past couple of years, with her and her pooches bringing home a truckload of ribbons and trophies.