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Burn the nets to the final bucket!

February 10, 2023 by David Svien

Hurlee Bronec sticks a jumper. (Morgan White photo)

They would not be denied.

Fighting from behind in the fourth quarter Friday, the Coupeville High School JV boys’ basketball team ended its season with a stirring 56-51 win at Friday Harbor.

The victory was the 10th straight for the high-flying Wolves, who finish 11-3 on the season.

It was a wild ‘n woolly campaign, with Craig Anderson and Jon Roberts taking the coaching reigns for the final three games after head coach Hunter Smith left to start fire school.

Along the way, swing player Chase Anderson moved up full-time to varsity, and big man Mikey Robinett moved out of state with his family.

But no matter who was on the floor, this pack of Wolves was a ferocious one, attacking on defense and spreading the love on offense.

Three different JV players topped 100 points, while a fourth one missed by just a three-ball.

That willingness to share the ball was on full display Friday, as seven different Wolves hit the bottom of the net with at least one shot.

Freshman Camden Glover led the way, torching Friday Harbor for 23 points, while Jack Porter knocked down 13.

Aiden O’Neill (8), Hunter Bronec (4), Johnny Porter (4), Hurlee Bronec (2), and Landon Roberts (2) also scored, with Malachi Somes putting the fear of God into his rivals while scrambling on defense.

The bright future of Wolf basketball. (Photo courtesy Morgan White)

Friday Harbor opened the game strongly, jumping out to a 20-12 lead after one quarter, but Coupeville took control after that, moment by moment, quarter by quarter.

A 17-13 surge in the second frame, fueled by eight points from Glover and a big three-ball off the electric fingertips of O’Neill, cut the deficit to 33-29.

From there, the Wolves narrowed things to 42-41 heading into the fourth, before closing the night on a 15-9 tear.

Jack Porter poured in nine of his 13 points in the final frame, while Coupeville, which was 0-4 at the free-throw line previously, went 5-8 in the waning moments.

 

Final season scoring stats:

Aiden O’Neill – 108
Jack Porter – 105
Hunter Bronec – 102
Camden Glover – 97
Chase Anderson – 71
Johnny Porter – 59
Hurlee Bronec – 46
Malachi Somes – 43
Landon Roberts – 38
Mikey Robinett – 6
Carson Field – 4
Yohannon Sandles – 2

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He ain’t heavy, he’s my point-scoring brother

February 10, 2023 by David Svien

Alex (left) and Xavier Murdy are one of the most-successful brother duos in CHS basketball history. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Alex Murdy made some more history Friday night.

The high-flying Coupeville High School senior knocked down 15 points against Friday Harbor, cracking the 400-point club for his varsity career.

While that’s a nice personal accomplishment, there’s actually more to it than that.

With the help of older brother Xavier, who graduated last year, the Murdy boys become just the eighth pair of brothers to top 400 points in the 106-year history of Wolf basketball.

Of those dynamic duos, four actually went a step further, with both brothers netting 500+ points, while the Whitney boys, Steve and Joe, are the only Wolf bros to both top 600.

And they accomplished that even though Joe didn’t finish his prep career at CHS, instead transferring to Lynden for his senior season, where he led the Lions to a state title.

 

The great eight, in order by combined points:

 

Bagby – 1636

Mike – 1137
Jason – 499

 

Whitney -1331

Steve – 730
Joe – 601

 

Faris – 1192

Foster – 628
Gary – 524

 

Syreen – 1144

Mike – 594
Jim – 550

 

Zylstra -1129

Denny – 602
Jerry – 527

 

O’Grady – 1083

John – 611
Pat – 472

 

Marti – 1013

Roy – 551
Frank – 462

 

Murdy – 889*

Xavier – 482
Alex – 407 … and counting

 

PS — In the 49-year history of CHS girls basketball, there’s only one sister combo where both players topped 400 points.

 

Black – 1124

Lexie – 622
Brittany – 502

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Baby, baby – they’ve got next!

February 10, 2023 by David Svien

Mia Littlejohn and her assistant coach plot strategy. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Their baby game is as strong as their hoops game.

A number of former Coupeville High School basketball players have added to Wolf Nation in the past couple of years, with some of the offspring featured in the pics seen above and below.

Little CHS uniforms for them all!

Avis Mitchell’s granddaughter knows grandma is a hoops legend. Pops wasn’t too bad, either.

Rhiannon Ellsworth’s daughter came out to support Suzan Georges’ daughter.

Ema Smith shows her daughter the court where she scored all those points.

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Caleb Meyer has (autograph) moves

February 10, 2023 by David Svien

Caleb Meyer, international man of mystery. (Photo courtesy Molly McPherson)

I knew him before he was big time.

Caleb Meyer is a Coupeville High School grad, current college basketball player, and owner of the most-luxurious naturally curly hair in the Northwest.

But a long time ago, before he got his growth spurt and became a tower of power, he was Videoville royalty, a wee tot hanging out in grampa and grandma’s store.

Caleb guarded the giant gumball machine next to the front door with a righteous passion, and his skills juggling the round candies were a sign of what was to come when he became a basketball whiz kid.

Seeing him return to Coupeville last year for his senior year and play a vital role for a Wolf hoops team which had its best season in three decades-plus, was a personal thrill.

And now Caleb is signing autographs for Skagit Valley College hoops fans who gaze at him like he’s a blend of Harry Styles and Damian Lillard.

Couldn’t happen to a better guy.

Posted in Basketball, Wolves in college | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Hardwood aces tip off new season

February 9, 2023 by David Svien

Sharpshooter Kennedy O’Neill informs big bro Aiden she plans to score more points on the basketball court than he does. (Photo courtesy Ashley Blouin)

First road trip, in the books.

The Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball teams kicked off a new season Thursday, making the trek down-Island to face off with arch-rival South Whidbey.

The Wolves came away with a split, plus their first taste of life in other people’s gyms, while CMS coaches Mia Littlejohn and Bennett Richter debuted as hardwood gurus.

How the day played out:

 

Level 1:

Coupeville 8th grader Haylee Armstrong led all scorers, but South Whidbey pulled away in the second half to claim a 31-19 win.

The hosts jumped out to an 8-3 advantage after one quarter, then slightly bumped the lead ahead to 14-8 at the half.

The third quarter was a killer for Coupeville, however, as South Whidbey gunner Greta Jones knocked down all seven of her points, including a three-ball, during a game-busting 11-4 run.

Jada Balora banked in six points in support of Jones, while Armstrong rattled the rims for nine points.

The sweet-shooting guard tallied points in every quarter and proved to be a deadeye at the free-throw line, where she sank three charity shots.

Capri Anter tossed in five points in support of Armstrong, with Tenley Stuurmans (3) and 6th grader Tamsin Ward (2) also scoring for the Wolves.

Adeline Maynes, Lexis Drake, Sydney Van Dyke, Chelsi Stevens, and Rhylin Price all saw floor time for Coupeville’s top squad.

Chelsi Stevens, a powerhouse on the taekwondo mat and the basketball hardwood. (Photo courtesy Kristi Stevens)

 

Level 2:

She who scores last, wins the day.

Coupeville went scoreless in the first quarter, fell behind 6-0 midway through the second frame, then stormed from behind to capture an 18-14 victory.

In a back-and-forth affair, the Wolves led 8-6 at halftime, South Whidbey went back in front 14-10 through three quarters, and then the visitors closed on an 8-0 fourth quarter surge.

Lillian Ketterling had the hot hand down the stretch, knocking down a pair of buckets to fuel the late rally, while Kennedy O’Neill and Ava Lucero also netted baskets in crunch time.

Arianna Cunningham paced the Wolves with six points, while O’Neill (4), Ketterling (4), Taylor Marrs (2), and Lucero (2) also wrote their name in the scorebook on opening day.

While they didn’t score, Isabella Bowder, Amaiya Curry, Isabella de Souza Oliveira Mc Fetridge, and Melanie Wolfe brought hustle and defense to their time on the floor.

 

Up next:

Coupeville has a week off, traveling to Sultan next Thursday, Feb. 16 to play Sultan.

The home opener is Feb. 21 against Northshore Christian Academy, and the Wolves get a rematch with South Whidbey — this time at CMS — in the Mar. 9 season finale.

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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