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Stone sizzles, squad rallies

March 5, 2023 by David Svien

Makana Stone heads to the hoop. (Photo property Marianne Maja Stenerud)

Only score that matters is the final score.

Closing the game on a 25-9 fourth quarter run Sunday, Coupeville grad Makana Stone and her Norwegian pro basketball teammates captured their fifth-straight victory.

Trailing by double-digits in the first half, Baerum ralllied behind its American assassin to knock off Bergen 58-47, running its season record to 15-5.

Stone and Co., who return to the court Mar. 11 to face Midtbyen (7-14), sit in second place in the seven-team Kvinneligaen, a half-game up on Asker (15-6).

Unbeaten Ulriken (19-0) remains in control as the regular season winds down.

Baerum got off to a rare cold start Sunday, falling behind 22-10 at the first break, before chip, chip, chippin’ away at the deficit.

A 9-7 mini-surge in the second quarter got Bergen’s lead down to 29-19, before Baerum narrowed things down to 38-33 heading into the final frame.

Stone was on point all game, dropping in a game-high 23 points, including hitting a career-best four three-balls.

The former Wolf ace also snagged nine rebounds, handed out three assists, and made off with four steals to keep the statisticians busy.

Baerum teammates Julie McCarthy (11 points, 11 rebounds) and Abbey Hoff (10 points) were able assistants for Stone in the win.

On the season, Eileen and Josh Stone’s daughter has racked up 382 points, 237 rebounds, 50 assists, 55 steals, and 11 blocks.

The former Wolf is in her second season of professional basketball, and her first in Norway. She played for Leicester in England as a rookie.

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Coupeville alumni shine in college action

March 4, 2023 by David Svien

Lucy (left) and Sophie Sandahl are back for another season of college rowing action. (Photo courtesy Lucy Sandahl)

Running, throwing, or rowing — former Coupeville athletes sparkled in multiple locales Friday and Saturday.

Sisters Lucy and Sophie Sandahl returned to the water with their Seattle Pacific University rowing teammates, while former Wolves Ja’Tarya Hoskins and Logan Martin kicked off the outdoor track and field season — just no longer as teammates.

The Sandahls zipped across American Lake in Lakewood at the PLU Invite, helping their varsity four squad capture two lopsided wins.

Lucy Sandahl was the boat’s coxswain, with Megan Rouse (stroke seat), Addie Clark (third seat), Gem Gatmaytan (second seat), and Sophie Sandahl (bow seat) busy on the oars.

SPU dominated against Western Washington University and Seattle University, jumping out to open water after the first 500 meters in both races.

“That is the first time we’ve ever competed with that line up and it was a very strong race day,” Lucy Sandahl said. “It was a good start to building a strong foundation for the season.”

The sensational siblings and their associates return to action Mar. 25, when they’ll take to the water for the Husky Open on the Montlake Cut in Seattle.

While the Sandahls were soaring under cloudy conditions, Martin and Hoskins reunited in Tacoma at the Ed Boitano Invitational.

Former Wolf Logan Martin (left) hangs out with his new Central Washington University teammates. (Abbie Martin photo)

Hoskins, who is zipping towards graduation from Saint Martin’s University this spring, ran in the 200 at the season-opener, hitting the tape in 31.06 seconds.

Meanwhile, Martin, a freshman at Central Washington University, threw in three events across the two days of the meet.

He claimed 5th place (out of 25 athletes) in the hammer throw with a heave of 154 feet, four inches, while also finishing 10th in the discus (112-07) and 20th in the shot put (34-00).

Posted in Rowing, Track, Wolves in college | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Wolf rivals collect hoops hardware

March 4, 2023 by David Svien

Coupeville freshman Chase Anderson battles in the paint against Mount Vernon Christian. (Chloe Marzocca photo)

No titles, but plenty of trophies.

Four Northwest 2B/1B League basketball teams played at the state tourney in Spokane this weekend, with three squads collecting hardware.

None of Coupeville’s conference rivals made it to a title game, with the Mount Vernon Christian girls — the defending 1B state champs — making it the furthest before being toppled in the semifinals Friday by top-ranked Neah Bay.

How NWL teams did in the spotlight at the Spokane Arena:

 

MVC girls:

The fourth-ranked Hurricanes didn’t repeat as state champs, but did beat their seeding, claiming 3rd place after winning two of three games over the weekend.

MVC had a bye Wednesday, then thunked Odessa 49-36 Thursday.

After falling 64-41 Friday to Neah Bay, the private school hoops stars bounced back Saturday to drill Inchelium 56-40 and finish the season at 24-5.

 

La Conner girls:

Warden got them again.

Any chance the #6 Braves had to add a 2B hoops state title to their volleyball crown fell by the wayside Thursday, when La Conner was run off the floor 58-43 by the same team which KO’d them last season.

Other than that, the Braves were on target, beating Northwest Christian (Colbert) 60-44, Rainier 67-47, and Adna 52-46.

That final win required a rally, as La Conner, down by six heading into the fourth quarter Saturday, closed on a 23-11 run to finish 22-6 and claim a 4th place trophy.

 

Orcas Island boys:

The Vikings shocked the seeding committee, which placed them #16 in the 20-team 1B field.

After surviving back-to-back loser-out state tourney games to get to Spokane, Orcas split four bouts in as many days in Eastern Washington to finish 23-11 and bring home a 6th place trophy.

The islanders beat Oakville 72-43, lost to Sunnyside Christian 56-47, came back to bounce Moses Lake Christian 67-39, then closed with a 71-63 loss to Mossyrock in a Vikings vs. Vikings showdown.

 

MVC boys:

The Hurricanes, seeded #10 in 1B, were one-and-done in Spokane, falling 56-50 to Cusick Wednesday and finishing the season at 21-7.

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Royal rumbles, big buckets

March 3, 2023 by David Svien

Willow Leedy-Bonifas rattled the rims for a season-high 20 points Thursday afternoon. (Alysabeth Leedy photo)

Three games, a tough foe, one win, and several breakout individual performances.

Thursday’s home middle school basketball clash between Coupeville and visiting Sultan had something for everyone, it seems.

How the day played out, while I was far away chasing chickens while my sister hugs penguins in Antarctica for her 50th birthday.

 

Level 1:

Wolf stars Tenley Stuurmans and Haylee Armstrong blistered the net, but a powerhouse Turks squad pulled away in the second half to notch a 42-24 victory.

Sultan jumped out to a 10-4 lead by the first break, before nudging its lead to 19-12 at the half.

After the break, the visitors continued to pad their lead, using 11-7 and 12-5 runs across the final two quarters to set the final score.

Stuurmans delivered her best shooting performance of the season, rattling the rims for a team-high 12 points while dropping a three-ball and netting three free throws, while Armstrong backed her up with eight points.

Lexis Drake and Tamsin Ward rounded out the Wolf attack, each banking in a bucket, with Adeline Maynes, Capri Anter, Sydney Van Dyke, Chelsi Stevens, and Rhylin Price also seeing floor time for CMS.

 

Level 2:

A defensive-minded game went to Sultan, which held Coupeville scoreless in both the second and fourth quarters en route to a 20-6 win.

The Wolves returned the favor, blanking the Turks in the third frame, but couldn’t generate enough offense to get back into the game.

Ari Cunningham, Melanie Wolfe, and Isa De Souza Oliveira Mc Fetridge scored a bucket apiece for CMS, with Kennedy O’Neill, Izzy Bowder, Lina Shelly, Lillie Ketterling, Amaiya Curry, Taylor Marrs, and Ava Lucero bringing the heat on the defensive end of the floor.

 

Level 3:

You can’t stop her, you can’t control her, and you can’t beat her.

CMS 7th grader Willow Leedy-Bonifas went bonkers, knocking down a season-high 20 points, outscoring Sultan by herself and sparking the Wolves to a 25-13 win.

The younger sibling of former Coupeville athletic aces Ivy and Lily Leedy scored in three of four quarters, highlighted by an eight-point run in the second frame, when the Wolves cracked the game open with a 12-0 surge.

Allie Powers and Amelia Crowder both swished a bucket, while Sophia Batterman slipped a free throw through the net to cap Coupeville’s scoring effort.

Emma Cushman, KeeArya Brown, and Sage Stavros rounded out the active roster, with every player contributing to the crowd-pleasing win.

 

What’s next:

Coupeville closes its season with a pair of rumbles next week.

The Wolves hit the road Tuesday, Mar. 7 to travel to Lakewood for contests which were bumped from this week, then host South Whidbey in the season finale Thursday, Mar. 9.

Tip-off is 3:15 PM.

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Sluggers swing for success

March 2, 2023 by David Svien

Sophomore slugger Madison McMillan is back to launch more dingers. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Never back down.

Coming off of back-to-back Northwest 2B/1B League titles — without a loss in league play — the Coupeville High School softball team heads into a new season intent on continuing its strong work.

Facing a tough non-league schedule, and adjusting to life without standout pitcher Izzy Wells, will give Kevin McGranahan’s squad plenty to overcome, but that’s the plan.

“Our goals remain the same as in every season,” McGranahan said. “Have fun, win the league again, earn a trip to state and compete.

“If we continue to play as a team and for one another then we can accomplish all those goals.”

Coupeville lost four players to graduation, led by Izzy Wells and hot-hitting Audrianna Shaw, who were part of a state tourney team as freshmen.

Also gone is sophomore catcher Savina Wells, now in Florida after a family move.

While the Wolves have five seniors atop the roster — Sofia Peters, Gwen Gustafson, Allie Lucero, Melanie Navarro, and Maya Lucero — they have less on-field experience than previous groups thanks to the pandemic.

Covid swept away their freshman season before it began, then limited them to just a handful of league games as sophomores.

Last season was the first time in three years Coupeville, and its foes, were allowed to play a full season.

Sofia Peters is one of five Wolf seniors.

The current group of seniors is joined by a strong group of younger players, many of whom were starters or key contributors last season.

Current sophomores Madison McMillan, Mia Farris, Chloe Marzocca, Jada Heaton, and Taylor Brotemarkle and freshman Teagan Calkins — who saw varsity action as an 8th grader — form a strong core.

Add in current 8th graders Haylee Armstrong and Capri Anter, as well as 7th grader Rhylin Price — who can practice, but not play in games this season — and the Wolves continue to build for the future while remaining competitive today.

“They are going to be an integral piece for this program the next few seasons as our numbers are ebbing and not flowing at the moment,” McGranahan said.

However the lineup breaks down, the Wolves will retain their normal scrappiness, while finetuning their collective skill sets.

“This team will need to be able to lean on one another and play as a team and play for each other in order to succeed,” McGranahan said. “I think from what I am seeing so far at practice we are taking the right strides and will be very competitive again this year in our league.

“Our strengths will be our never say die attitude and competitiveness.

“We are never going to be out of a game and will compete to the last pitch; that is something these players take pride in.”

Melanie Navarro anchors a hard-hitting lineup.

Six of seven schools in the Northwest 2B/1B League play softball, with Mount Vernon Christian sitting out the season.

Ultimately, though, it’s the games against fellow 2B teams La Conner and Friday Harbor which will dictate Coupeville’s playoff seeding.

“As it goes every year the league title will come down to how we do against Friday Harbor,” McGranahan said.

“The gap has narrowed somewhat but I still feel we have the edge and would take our athletes over theirs all day, every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“These young ladies never cease to amaze me with how they attack practices and games,” he added.

“We have a huge bullseye on our back — we have to be ready for everyone’s “A” game every time we play.”

To prepare, the Wolves will put in time and effort every day.

“We will be working on our softball IQ this season and creating a standard for this program going forward,” McGranahan said.

“We are always working on the offense and defense in practice but this season we will also focus on the little things and the more technical aspects of the game.

“We chose to schedule a VERY tough out of conference schedule so we can get ourselves ready for the post season and state should we earn a spot,” he added.

“I am challenging these players to answer the call and show us what they have.”

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