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Mahkai Myles powers his way to the hoop. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They almost made it all the way back.

Unfortunately for the Coupeville High School JV boys’ basketball team, a furious fourth quarter rally Friday night couldn’t quite save the Wolves.

CHS slashed a double-digit deficit down to a single bucket on Orcas Island, but time ran out, allowing the Vikings to escape with a narrow 46-43 victory.

The loss drops the Wolves to 4-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 5-5 overall, with three games left on the 2024-2025 schedule.

Coupeville came out cold, falling behind 19-5 after one quarter of play, which left it scrambling all night.

The Wolves trimmed the Vikings lead down a bit, pulling within 27-17 at the half, before trailing 37-26 through three frames.

CHS hit both of its three-balls in the fourth, with Mahkai Myles and Carson Grove draining treys to spur a 17-9 rally.

Unlike the varsity game, where Orcas spent much more time at the free throw line, Coupeville got the benefit of the ref’s whistles in the JV rumble but failed to convert.

While the Vikings were just 4 of 13 at the free throw line, the Wolves were 11-26, letting way too many shots slide off the rim on a night where a handful of points would have changed their fate.

Davin Houston finished with a team-high 13 points to pace CHS, with Grove knocking down nine and Riley Lawless powering through the paint for seven.

Myles (5), Khanor Jump (4), Malachi Somes (2), Easton Green (2), and Sage Arends (1) also scored, with Liam Blas bringing the heat on the defensive side of the floor for the Wolves.

Camden Glover rumbles in the paint. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Now it’s a true winning streak.

Holding off a feisty, free throw-friendly Orcas Island squad Friday, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball squad claimed its third straight victory.

Led by an explosive game from senior big man Hurlee Bronec, the Wolves escaped with a 52-47 triumph on the road and a season sweep of the always-tough Vikings.

Now 5-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 6-10 overall, Brad Sherman’s squad heads into a huge week, with clashes against conference leaders Mount Vernon Christian and La Conner up next on the schedule.

The Wolves, who won despite suffering a huge disparity at the foul line — Orcas hit 21 of 26 free throws to Coupeville’s 5-10 performance — led from start to finish Friday night.

Hurlee Bronec, who has been playing like a beast in the paint in 2025, poured in 11 points in the first quarter to spark CHS to an 18-15 lead.

From there, Coupeville used a 12-2 surge in the second — this time powered by the other Battlin’ Bronec Brother, one Hunter — to push the lead out to 30-17 at the half.

While Orcas cut the deficit down to 43-35 through three quarters, the Vikings were never able to catch the Wolves.

Hurlee Bronec and Chase Anderson combined for all 13 of Coupeville’s points in the third frame, while Malachi Somes netted a huge three-ball in the fourth to keep Orcas at bay.

Malachi Somes hit a huge shot in the win over Orcas.

The Wolves got big contributions from all eight players to hit the hardwood, with Hurlee Bronec leading the way with a game-high 21 points.

That pushes him to 199 points for his CHS varsity career, leaving him one point shy of becoming the 141st Wolf boy to crack the 200-point club for a program which launched in 1917.

Anderson banked in nine, with Hunter Bronec (8), Landon Roberts (4), Camden Glover (4), Somes (3), and Jack Porter (3) also scoring.

Johnny Porter rounded out the rotation, bringing intensity to a fired-up Wolf defense.

While Hurlee Bronec is on the cusp of joining the 200-point club, Anderson, currently in his junior season, continues to work his way up the career scoring chart.

He stepped on to the floor Friday as the #50 scorer in CHS boys’ history and departed it at #46, having passed Cody Peters (518), JJ Marti (520), and Gary Faris (524), while tying Brad Miller (526).

Makenna Jonker-Chambers is honored by the Lions Club. (Photos courtesy Robin Bernardy)

Two cheers for the Coupeville Lions Club Students of the Quarter.

Both Pamela Morrell and Makenna Jonker-Chambers are key members of the CHS spirit squad, while also being top-notch students and community members.

The Lions Club honors two Wolf seniors each academic quarter, before picking its Students of the Year at graduation time.

Morrell and Jonker-Chambers, honored Jan. 13, are being tabbed for their efforts during the second academic quarter of the school year.

CHS staff and teachers vote on the awards, with students honored for “community service, effort, character, social relationships, scholarship, and sportsmanship.”

Along with her work as a cheerleader, Jonker-Chambers is on the Executive Board, a member of the National Honor Society, and a participant in the school’s Captain’s Club.

The daughter of Amy Jonker and Donald Chambers pulls down a 3.8 GPA, with her favorite classes including math, biology, and health careers.

Jonker-Chambers, who volunteers as a tutor and with a vacation bible school, plans to attend a four-year university, followed by medical school, with a focus on radiology.

Pamela Morrell

Pamela Morrell, daughter of Jennifer and Frank Morell, is a busy bee, devoting time to the Leo’s Club while also participating in numerous parades.

She works at Kapaw’s Ice Cream and Apple Orchard Daycare.

Carrying a GPA of 3.88, she enjoys her English and sports medicine classes, while balancing cheer, theater, the Captain’s Club, the Sports Medicine Club, and Skills USA.

A member of the National Honor Society, Morrell plans to attend Whatcom Community College, with plans to later transfer to Western Washington University.

Cheer captain and artful welder, Kassidy Upchurch is a young woman of many talents. (Lincoln Kelley photos)

Their skills are many.

A batch of Coupeville High School students spent last weekend competing in area competitions with a focus on their work with both metal and sweet sugar.

Shepherded by CHS teacher Lincoln Kelley, the first group of Wolves visited Everett Community College Friday, Jan. 17, where they vied in the SkillsUSA Welding Sculpture, Welding Fabrication, and Technical Welding competitions.

Delanie Lewis, who displayed her project “The Nutty Giraffe,” placed twelfth in Welding Sculpture.

She had a busy day, taking part in an interview, showing her art piece, and taking a written knowledge test.

Meanwhile, Kassidy Upchurch claimed ninth in Technical Welding, where she demonstrated Oxy-Fuel Cutting, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and the ability to construct a project from blueprints.

Jesus Madrigal and Danica Strong make the sparks fly.

Finally, the trio of Danica Strong, Jesus Madrigal, and Landon Roberts collected fifth place in Welding Fabrication.

The trio followed blueprints, measuring, cutting to length and various dimensions, fitting, and then welding together the pieces.

The result was a jet stove constructed from stock materials that had been provided.

Marz Halstead is on point in the kitchen.

After a few hours of downtime, Kelley was back on the road Saturday, taking Marz Halstead and Tenley Stuurmans to Arlington for a pastry and baking arts contest.

The duo baked a braided bread roll, two types of yeast rolls, a cherry pie, chocolate chip cookies, and biscuits, while also decorating a cake.

Get in my stomach.

Stuurmans placed ninth, with Halstead claiming eleventh place in a very close contest where the difference between first and ninth was less than seventy points.

While it was a long weekend, Kelley came away pleased with the skills shown by his young proteges.

“Great work by every one of our contestants,” he said. “They represented Coupeville very well.”

Haylee Armstrong, dropping daggers and taking names. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They’re deceptive.

Off the court, Adeline Maynes and Haylee Armstrong come across as very kind young women, the sort of people you’d leave your baby or puppy with and feel like the tykes would come home happier than when they left.

But hand the Wolf duo a basketball, fling open the door to the gymnasium, and woe to anyone foolish enough to wander into their path.

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” are possibly the last words you’ll hear before the destruction hits like a hurricane, leaving twisted bodies and psyches in their wake.

Or something like that.

Suffice it to say that Maynes and Armstrong — which sort of sounds like a powerhouse law firm — are the linchpins of the Coupeville High School JV girls’ basketball team.

And once again the dazzling duo went off Tuesday night, this time wreaking havoc on visiting Concrete.

Combining to rattle the rims for 35 points, Coupeville’s twin terrors outscored the Lions by themselves, spurring Scout Smith’s squad to a resounding 62-30 win.

The victory lifts the Wolf JV to 3-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 4-5 overall, heading into a road trip Friday to the wilds of Orcas Island.

While Maynes and Armstrong were the tip of the spear, it was a strong team-wide effort all night, with much of Coupeville’s success springing from its work on the defensive end of the floor.

“Our team played a great game, executed our system well, and fought hard,” Smith said. “This team continues to adapt and improve to develop as players and not remain stagnant in their play.”

Maynes “did an excellent job crashing the boards and getting putback points,” while Lexis Drake “did an excellent job defensively.

“She played an integral role in our press, sniping any long range passes the offense tried to make.”

Once they had control of the ball, Smith’s rampaging warriors kept the pressure on Concrete, immediately kicking into gear.

“We pushed the ball up the court, ran the floor well, and attacked the hoop offensively,” Smith said.

“We were tenacious and active on defense both on the ball and in help.”

Coupeville surged to a 13-6 lead after one quarter, then steadily added to the lead quarter after quarter.

Up 22-14 at the half, the Wolves went on a 23-10 romp in the third frame, with Maynes pouring in 11 points.

The fab frosh finished with a season-best 23 points, while Armstrong netted a trio of three-balls on her way to 12 in support.

Capri Anter (8), Ava Lucero (8), Drake (5), Sydney Van Dyke (4), and Marin Winger (2) also scored, with Amelia Crowder, Chelsi Stevens, and Jeann Nitta all seeing floor time in the win.

Smith, who is in her first season at the helm of the Wolf JV, is enjoying watching the growth of her young players.

“Overall, I continue to be impressed with this team and the effort and energy they bring to each game,” she said.

“They continue to pursue excellence day in and day out.”