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Freshman Liam Blas knocked down eight points Friday in a road win. (Photo courtesy Stephanie Blas)

Thrive, and then survive.

Using an inspired run across the middle two quarters Friday, the Coupeville High School JV boys’ basketball team built itself a fairly comfortable lead on host South Whidbey, then played keep-away long enough at the end to run the clock out.

Heading home with a 34-28 win, and a 1-1 record on the season, the young Wolves can look to those 16 minutes in the middle of the game as a true highlight.

Coupeville actually trailed 7-4 at the first break, before going on a big run in the second frame to carry a 20-11 lead into the half.

The Wolves, with freshman Carson Grove poppin’ three balls from the parking lot, then stretched the advantage out to 32-17 through three.

“We clamped down with good D and spread the ball around,” said CHS coach Jon Roberts.

“Our help defense and hedging really made a big difference.”

With Coupeville’s bench playing most of the fourth quarter, the Falcons made a run to shave the lead down from 15 to six but ultimately couldn’t keep the clock from hitting all zeroes.

The Wolves spread out their offense, with eight different players putting their name into the scorebook.

Grove led the way with nine points, while Liam Blas popped for eight and Easton Green banked in six.

Malachi Somes (4), Sage Arends (2), Mahkai Myles (2), Riley Lawless (2), and Davin Houston (1) also scored, with Jayden Little, Kyle McCrimmon, Khanor Jump, and Nathan Coxsey all seeing floor time.

While Coupeville’s varsity plays Saturday, Clallam Bay doesn’t have a JV, so the Wolf young guns will be off until a Monday road trip to the wilds of Forks.

CHS coach Brad Sherman is looking for some answers. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Game #2 shared too many characteristics with game #1.

Despite a late rally Friday, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball team came up short in Langley, falling 45-37 to South Whidbey.

The non-conference loss, which drops the Wolves to 0-2 on the young season, was marked by poor free throw shooting and having to spend most of the game playing from behind.

That was a bad combo against Mount Baker in the opener, and it was a bad combo again.

In both games Coupeville was aggressive and got to the free throw line far more often than its opponent, but then watched way too many charity shots slide off the rim.

The Wolves made just 15 of 30 from the stripe in the opener, and went 7-22 Friday in a game where those shots could have changed the outcome.

Relegated to playing in a ramshackle side establishment while South Whidbey continues to finish work on its destroyed-by-a-flood main gym, the Wolves came out cold against the Falcons.

Down 11-4 after one quarter, things got worse in the second frame, as the Falcons used a hail of three-balls from Cody Redford to build a 35-12 lead.

Something clicked coming out of halftime, however, as the Wolves went on an 18-7 run in the third.

Jack Porter went off for six of his team-high 12 in the frame, with Chase Anderson and Hurlee Bronec adding four apiece, and the lead was down to 42-30.

Clamping down on defense, Coupeville shaved off four more points from the deficit over the game’s final eight minutes but couldn’t find enough buckets of its own to get all the way back.

Chase Anderson and a Falcon battle for the opening tip. (Tammy Glover photo)

While Jack Porter’s 12 was tops, he got support from Hurlee Bronec (8), Camden Glover (5), Hunter Bronec (5), Anderson (4), Johnny Porter (2), and Landon Roberts (1).

With his bucket Johnny Porter becomes the 424th Wolf boy (across 108 seasons) who I’ve been able to document as having scored in a varsity game.

Malachi Somes and Carson Field both saw floor time as well for Coupeville, while Redford topped South Whidbey with 14 points.

Teagan Calkins, seen in 2023, is off to a red-hot start on the hardwood. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“The Red Dragon” roared.

Pouring in a game-high 14 points Friday, Teagan Calkins spurred the Coupeville High School varsity girls’ basketball squad to its first win of the young season.

Holding host South Whidbey scoreless through the first period, the Wolves jumped out to a convincing lead, then kept adding to the advantage during a 33-18 Island rivalry triumph.

Now 1-1 on the season, the Wolves have a quick bounce back, hosting Clallum Bay Saturday in a game set to tip at 2:15 PM.

The CHS hoops stars should feel pretty good about themselves when they take the floor for that non-conference rumble, coming off a very-convincing win against their next-door neighbors.

The Wolves jumped out to a 12-0 lead after one frame, with Calkins, Lyla Stuurmans, and Mia Farris combining to scorch the net.

From there things were much more even, but Coupeville still came out on top in every quarter.

The lead blossomed to 19-6 at halftime, then went to 27-14 through three, with Calkins swishing a pair of three-balls en route to scoring all eight Wolf points in the third.

Her 14-point performance comes on the heels of dropping 13 in the season opener.

Farris (5), Lyla Stuurmans (4), Madison McMillan (2), Katie Marti (2), Danica Strong (2), Jada Heaton (2), and Tenley Stuurmans (2) also scored for Megan Richter’s squad.

Capri Anter made her varsity hoops debut for the Wolves, as well, while Baylie Kuschnereit and Juliette Wood paced South Whidbey with six points each.

Trenton Thule lets fly. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Growth over scores.

While the Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams were swept in three games at Sultan Thursday, Wolf coaches headed back to the bus in a positive mood.

“The amount of smiles and laughs we had before, during, and after the games is enough of a win for us coaches!” RayLynn Ratcliff said.

“These boys are working hard, they’re engaged and learning, they’re challenging themselves in every game and having fun while doing it!”

Coupeville wraps up four straight on the road with a trip to Lakewood Monday, before closing the season at home against South Whidbey Dec. 16.

How Thursday played out:

 

Level 1:

Diesel Eck rumbled in the paint for a team-high 13 points, while Kamden Ratcliff knocked down eight in support.

River Simpson (5), Jonathan Kappes (3), and Xander Beaman (2) also scored, with Trenton Thule, Maverick Walling, Calvin Kappes, Gracen Joiner, Darius Stewart, and Colton Ashby rounding out the roster.

 

Level 2:

Darius Stewart was high man for the Wolves, popping for nine points, with Aiden Wheat, Joiner, and Cyrus Sparacio each adding a bucket.

Also seeing floor time were Jacob Lujan, Mario Martinez, Ashby, Cole Van Dyke, Xander Flowers, and Jonah Meek.

 

Level 3:

Les Queen, who leads all CMS scorers this season with 72 points, banked in 10, with Henry Jackson rippling the nets for five, including netting a three-ball.

Liam Stoner and Talon Gamble added a bucket apiece, with Gamble becoming the 23rd Wolf to score this season.

Kion Tellery, Jack Bailey, Carson Marley, and Oliver Miller also played.

Ferry Life 24/7/365. (RayLynn Ratcliff photo)

Lyla Stuurmans dominates at the net. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

We’ve reached the finish line.

The fall high school sports season reached its official end Thursday, with Coupeville volleyball players and coaches celebrating the most-successful campaign in program history.

The Wolf varsity, which was undefeated until the final day of the season, finished 18-2, won league and Bi-District titles, and earned a 4th place trophy at the state tourney.

Meanwhile, the JV spikers rolled to a 12-1 mark, avenging their only loss by swatting Mount Vernon Christian the second time around.

Wolf coaches Cory Whitmore, Ashley Menges, Scout Smith, and Cris Matochi honored 21 players with awards and certificates.

Taylor Brotemarkle triggers the action.

 

Varsity awards:

 

MVP:

Mia Farris

 

Heart of the Wolf:

Jada Heaton

 

Most Inspirational:

Mia Farris

 

Most Improved:

Dakota Strong

 

Captains:

Taylor Brotemarkle
Mia Farris
Lyla Stuurmans

 

Four-Year Awards:

Taylor Brotemarkle
Mia Farris
Jada Heaton
Katie Marti
Madison McMillan
Lyla Stuurmans

 

JV awards:

 

MVP:

Adeline Maynes

 

Most Inspirational:

Haylee Armstrong

 

Most Improved:

Sydney Van Dyke

 

Varsity letter winners:

Taylor Brotemarkle
Teagan Calkins
Lexis Drake
Mia Farris
Jada Heaton
Katie Marti
Chloe Marzocca
Madison McMillan
Dakota Strong
Lyla Stuurmans
Tenley Stuurmans

 

Participation certificates:

Capri Anter
Haylee Armstrong
Delilah Castellanos
Ari Cunningham
Willow Leedy-Bonifas
Adeline Maynes
Myra McDonald
Isa Mc Fetridge
Chelsi Stevens
Sydney Van Dyke

Chloe Marzocca rips off an ace.