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Stone roars in tough loss

November 19, 2023 by David Svien

Along with playing professional basketball in Norway, Makana Stone also coaches the next generation of hoops stars.

She continues to fire on all cylinders, even if her team does not.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone filled up the stat sheet in a big way Sunday in Norway, but her pro hoops team stumbled in the second half.

The former Wolf ace went off for a game-high 32 points and 13 rebounds, while also pilfering four steals, but Ammerud fell 78-55 to host Asker.

The loss, the third straight for Stone and her associates, drops them to 2-4 on the season.

Ammerud, which returned to action this season after several years of inactivity, sits in fifth place in the six-team Kvinneligaen.

The Queens are off now for the holidays, returning with back-to-back games Dec. 2-3 against Bergen (0-6) and Ulriken (4-1).

Sunday’s clash with Asker was a barn burner during the first half, with the teams going to the break tied 27-27.

Down 18-16 after one quarter of play, Ammerud used an 11-9 surge in the second frame to knot things up.

After the break, though, Asker made its move.

A 24-9 run in the third quarter pushed the lead to 15 points, before the hosts closed things with a 27-19 advantage across the final 10 minutes.

Stone put up a fierce fight, hitting her high in an Ammerud uniform and scoring from every angle.

She knocked down nine regular baskets, drilled the bottom out of the net on a trio of three-balls and went 5-7 at the free throw line.

But the rest of the Ammerud lineup was 9-39 from the floor in the game, with no one else topping seven points.

Stone, who is in her third year of pro ball, has racked up 127 points, 74 rebounds, 21 assists, 18 steals, and six blocks this season.

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No title, still best league

November 18, 2023 by David Svien

Ethan Moss of Orcas takes a shot to the nads from Coupeville enforcer Cole White. (Jackie Saia photo)

Coupeville’s league continues to be the best in the state when it comes to fall boys’ soccer.

The Northwest 2B/1B League has claimed eight of 12 trophies across the past three state tournaments.

But while the NWL added two more hunks of hardware Saturday, for the first time in three years the nine-team conference failed to win the title.

Instead, it was third-ranked Upper Columbia Academy, an Eastern Washington private school out of Spangle, which claimed the first crown in program history.

Scoring both its goals in a furious first couple of minutes, the Lions edged fifth-seeded Orcas Island 2-0 in a game played in Federal Way.

Not only is this the first state title for UCA soccer, but the school, which finished 13-2, had never won a game at the big dance prior to this year.

After previously losing twice in the first round, the Lions toppled Mount Vernon Christian 2-1 and Riverside Christian 4-0 this time around before tangling with Orcas.

While the Vikings (12-6) failed in their bid to reclaim the title, they fought hard on a cool, foggy night, and have brought home a top-two trophy three straight seasons.

They were champs in 2021, then fell to league rival Friday Harbor in the finale last year.

After falling behind early against UCA, Orcas seemingly started to mount a comeback, only to have the refs puncture those dreams.

The Vikings rammed home a goal to cut the lead to 2-1 midway through the first half, but the score was waved off after the officials decided the islanders had roughed up the Lions goaltender during the play.

That was seriously debatable, and not a popular call among pro-Orcas supporters, but it stood.

The Vikings kept coming after that, mounting numerous charges, but could never completely bust through the UCA defense.

As the game progressed, things became increasingly more slap-happy, with Orcas booters frequently shoved by Lion defenders while trying to navigate a slick turf field.

Tempers flared, words were exchanged — both among players and fans — and three yellow cards were handed out, but the squads stopped short of igniting the full tilt brawl the announcers feared.

Saturday’s rumble brought an end to an eight-team tourney which began with a bang, as #1 Auburn Adventist Academy and #2 Friday Harbor were both eliminated in quarterfinal shockers.

Orcas beat Evergreen Lutheran 2-1 to open its state run, before toppling NWL mate Providence Classical Christian 3-1 in the semifinals, garnering some revenge for a regular-season loss.

PCC bounced back to beat Riverside Christian 2-1 in the 3rd/4th place contest.

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La Conner School Board among state’s best

November 18, 2023 by David Svien

La Conner’s School Board was hailed as one of the state’s best. (Photo property La Conner School District)

A nearby school board has been honored as one of the best in the state.

La Conner, which joins Coupeville in the Northwest 2B/1B League for athletics, was hailed Saturday by the Washington State School Directors’ Association.

Its school board joined Kelso and Sumner-Bonney Lake as the 2023 Boards of the Year.

La Conner topped the “small school” class, with the other two boards recognized for their work at “medium” and “large” school districts, respectively.

“This top honor recognizes a board that has shown significant vision and leadership that clearly resulted in positive and measurable student success,” WSSDA said in a press release.

“All three boards demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness within their roles to support the success of their students and staff while serving their communities.

“Also, each board significantly narrowed or closed opportunity gaps among students.”

La Conner’s board, working with Superintendent Dr. Will Makoyiisaaminaa (Nelson) and educators, “partnered to focus heavily on math acceleration last school year, which was the area with the largest opportunity gap for students.”

“A combination of adopting a new math curriculum and assessment tool, monthly reviews of math data by the board, and investment in teacher support paid off with significant growth in just one year,” WSSDA said.

“It also committed to the practices of Professional Learning Communities, Universal Design for Learning, and Mastery Based Learning.”

The La Conner board is comprised of Directors John Agen, Loran James, Jeremy Wilbur, Kim Pedroza, Susie Deyo and student reps Taylor Rae Cayou and Josi Straathof.

 

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Lhamon still queen of the pitch

November 18, 2023 by David Svien

Carolyn Lhamon may wear a different uniform these days, but she’s still a soccer sensation. (Photo courtesy Helene Lhamon)

Carolyn Lhamon is still rampaging on the soccer pitch, but some of the road trips are a lot longer than in her high school days.

While playing for Coupeville, the All-Conference midfielder and team captain often traveled to far-flung places like Forks and Friday Harbor.

But now that Lhamon is a freshman suiting up for the Colorado School of Mines women’s club team, she sometimes jumps out of state for soccer action.

Case in point, a recent trip to Round Rock, Texas, where the Orediggers competed in the NIRSA National Soccer Championships.

What does NIRSA stand for, you ask?

Deep breath … it’s the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association.

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle, as every ’80s kid knows from watching G.I. Joe cartoons.

Lhamon, who has likely never seen one of those Saturday morning specials, joined her teammates at a NIRSA battle royal which featured 96 teams – 48 each on the women’s and men’s side of the bracket.

The Orediggers fought to a 1-1 draw with Millersville University, which hails from Pennsylvania, while being nipped 1-0 by Grand Valley State and 2-0 by the University of Oregon.

That caps a season in which Colorado went 6-7-2, while often playing against club programs from much-larger schools.

Getting to keep playing her favorite sport has been a joy for Lhamon.

“She’s loving club soccer!” said mom Helene.

“In club soccer there are no divisions, so a lot of power programs here, but Mines is showing them that engineers from small schools can play great soccer!”

Lhamon, who also played basketball and track and field as a Wolf, was a CHS Female Athlete of the Year winner as a junior.

When she’s not on the pitch, she’s majoring in Biochemical Engineering and has joined a sorority.

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Gridiron guru turns focus to classroom, family

November 17, 2023 by David Svien

Wolf senior William Davidson gets a close-up with CHS gridiron guru Brett Casey. (Charlotte Young photo)

One of the best beards in the game is departing the sidelines.

But he’s not leaving town.

Brett Casey, who has coached football for Coupeville at both the high school and middle school levels, announced Thursday he’s stepping away from his gridiron gig.

That will give him more time to focus on his classroom job and family.

Casey teaches at Coupeville Elementary School.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “Being a first-year teacher and coaching was hard.

“I love being a 3rd grade teacher,” Casey added. “And I felt I was not able to give 100% to both at this time.”

After putting in 20 years as a coach spread across several towns, stepping away will also give him a better opportunity to travel to football games featuring family members.

“I’m ready to go watch my nephew play his senior year at the University of Montana,” Casey said.

With the CHS Class of 2024 wrapping their football experience with Thursday night’s awards banquet, it also brought things full circle for their coach.

“These seniors are the boys I got to coach in 7th grade and are the last ones that got to play middle school football here,” Casey said.

“William (Davidson), Chris Villarreal, and Mikey (Robinett) are the ones that stuck it out.”

Casey chats with Wolf QB Logan Downes. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

As Casey steps back, Coupeville High School Athletic Director Willie Smith praised his coach.

“Brett has been a great addition to our CSD athletic staff; his passion for the game, our athletes, and this community has been greatly appreciated by all of us.

“I know that his experience and knowledge was a great help to (head coach) Bennett (Richter) and his staff as they began their coaching journey, and it has been fun for me to watch them all work so closely together to build our football program into a successful and quality program.”

Smith, like others, is also thankful for Casey remaining in the community, and teaching just a few steps away from the football field.

“Obviously, he will be missed, but I don’t think he will or can, stray too far away from being involved, even if just as a sounding board for our football program,” Smith said.

“I’m excited for him as he embarks on being able to put his focus and energy into his new elementary position,” he added.

“Being a first- and second-year teacher is tough enough without the addition of being a high school coach, so it will be nice for him I’m sure, to step back and take some breaths.”

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