Connor Barton (20), here playing defense, was part of a 7th grade squad that beat four of five league foes this season. (John Fisken photos)
Aiden Burdge was a scrappy ball-hawk whenever on the floor.
Daniel Olson fights for two.
Jake Mitten flies the friendly skies.
They were done, then they weren’t done after all, and now they’re really done.
The Coupeville Middle School boys basketball schedule took a series of twists and turns at the end of the season, but it all worked out in the end, with the Wolves getting a 10th game Monday in Port Townsend.
The CMS 7th graders took advantage, drilling Blue Heron 50-34, clinching a winning season at 6-4. The younger Wolves beat four of five teams in their league this season.
Playing with a much-thinner roster (they tipped off Monday with six players and finished with three, thanks to foul trouble) the CMS 8th graders stayed close for a half, but fell 50-35.
The older group finished the season 2-8.
Monday’s 7th grade game was decided in the third quarter, when the Wolves savaged their hosts 18-5.
Clinging to a 20-17 lead coming out of the halftime break, Coupeville immediately jumped on its foes, with balanced scoring from Xavier Murdy (six in the quarter), Hawthorne Wolfe (5) and Caleb Meyer (5).
Wolfe led the attack all night, finishing with a game-high 16, while Murdy tallied a season-best 14 and Meyer pounded home nine.
Logan Martin banked in six, Connor Barton tickled the twines for five and Tony Garcia, Aiden Burdge, Logan Wertz, Jonathan Carroll and Cody Roberts all saw floor time.
The 8th graders stayed within 20-14 in the first half, but the third quarter killed their hopes. Outscored 18-11, they faded down the stretch as, one by one, they lost bodies.
Jake Mitten closed out his middle school career with 14, while Daniel Olson (9), Sage Downes (7) and Dakota Eck (5) also scored.
Ben Smith and Alex Jimenez will join that foursome in making the jump to high school hoops next year.
