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Makana Stone commands the basketball to get back in her hand. (Photo property Marianne Maja Stenerud)

Onward and upward.

Sparked by the play of American assassin Makana Stone, Baerum basketball cruised to its fourth-straight hardwood win, polishing off Ullern 63-51 Wednesday in Norway.

With the victory, Baerum gets to 14-5 on the season, moving back into sole possession of second place in the seven-team Kvinneligaen.

Ulriken (19-0) sits atop the league standings, while Asker (14-6) slides a half-game back of Baerum.

Stone put together a well-balanced effort Wednesday, pumping in 19 points, snatching eight boards, and handing out six assists.

Fellow American Abbey Hoff led Baerum with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Stone and Co. jumped out to a 24-11 lead after one quarter of play, before Ullern (8-11) closed the gap to 32-25 by the half.

The second half was a taut, back-and-forth affair, with Baerum holding on to its lead until the final buzzer sounded.

The squad has three days off, returning to action Mar. 5 with a rumble against Bergen, which is 4-14 on the season.

With her stellar performance Wednesday Stone improves her season numbers to 359 points, 228 rebounds, 47 assists, 51 steals, and 11 blocked shots.

The Coupeville grad is in her second season as a pro baller, having played in England during her rookie year.

Spring, and little league action are just around the corner. (Allison Scarpo photo)

Pretend it’s spring.

Registration for Central Whidbey Little League wraps next Friday, Mar. 10, with baseball and softball seasons kicking off Apr. 1.

CWLL action is open to players ages 5-14, with multiple teams offered for both sports.

For more info and to get your child signed up, pop over to:

https://www.centralwhidbeylittleleague.com/Default.aspx?tabid=958723&fbclid=IwAR3NYQV4MM5Jj4pzlGpqGYshfpT-3yvqg7wUEHBoBcQP6RXz5QMd4zP1Q64

Wolf junior Peyton Caveness is a key returning player for CHS baseball. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

They’re chasing that state tourney dream.

The Coupeville High School baseball team came within a play here, a play there of earning the 10th trip to the big dance in program history last spring.

But it wasn’t to be, as the Wolves, coming off of a regular-season Northwest 2B/1B League title, fell 3-2 to Friday Harbor in a winner-to-state, loser-out playoff game.

Jump forward a year, flip out coaches, with former assistant Steve Hilborn taking the reins after Will Thayer’s move to Vegas, and Coupeville is back on the chase.

The Wolves lost five players to graduation, including league MVP Hawthorne Wolfe and All-League picks Xavier Murdy and Cody Roberts.

But Steve Hilborn can still put together a rock-solid lineup which is anchored by All-League players Scott Hilborn and Jonathan Valenzuela and features a wealth of talented young stars.

Some of the names may be different, but the job remains the same.

“Simple, sweep Friday Harbor, win league, go to state,” was Steve Hilborn’s reply when asked about goals.

The schools, which split two regular-season games last spring, are set to play three times this year.

Game #1, on Friday Harbor, is Mar. 28, while the Wolverines travel to Coupeville Apr. 18. Things wrap up May 4 back on Friday Harbor for the regular-season finale.

While that three-game series will likely dictate who wins the league title, Steve Hilborn is not looking past anyone in the seven-team NWL.

“Friday Harbor is the obvious one – I don’t believe they lost too many seniors from last year,” he said.

“But also Mount Vernon Christian, and Orcas had some good young talent and might surprise some teams this year.”

Steve Hilborn expects pitching to be his team’s biggest strength, with seniors Scott Hilborn and Valenzuela teaming up with freshman Chase Anderson to form the core of the staff.

While Anderson is only a fab frosh, he already has extensive varsity experience, having been a starting infielder and pitching for the Wolves as an 8th grader.

“The Magic Man” was the backup QB for the Wolf varsity football team as a freshman, leading the team in the second half of its state playoff game, and was a key member of the CHS varsity boys’ basketball squad.

“I think our pitching will be solid with our three main starters,” Steve Hilborn said. “I don’t think it’s just nepotism, but Scott was a huge part of all aspects of our game last year and we’ll need him to anchor the pitching staff this year.

“I expect Jon and Chase to be our other two main starters, with a few other players carrying the remaining load.”

First-Team All-Conference player Scott Hilborn is back for his senior season.

The team’s biggest question mark is likely behind the plate, with the team having lost the always-steady Murdy.

“Catcher is going to be a huge void to fill with Xavier gone,” Steve Hilborn said.

“We are looking at Peyton (Caveness) and Jon for that spot with Johnny (Porter) in there as well.”

The Wolves would love to see their offense kick things into gear, taking some of the pressure off of their pitching staff. Not every game has to be a low-run thriller.

“When it comes to offense you never know who might surprise you,” Steve Hilborn said. “Cole (White) and Peyton came through with some clutch hits last year and we expect more of that this year.

“Little too early to tell, but historically we haven’t hit that consistently and we want to change that,” he added. “We want every at-bat to have a plan and an approach.

“We might still strike out in a good battle, but, if we follow our approach and don’t flail away at three bad pitches, it can still be a win.”

The first day of practice attracted a solid group of young players, though the Wolves are still interested in adding bodies. At the 2B level, that can include 8th graders.

“We have quite a few freshmen, several of which played as 8th graders last year,” Steve Hilborn said. “At the first practice we had three new faces — Jayme Carranza, Parker Fuller-Hewitt, and David Dominici.

“We would like a few more players to fill out two teams, and we would love some 8th graders if any are interested.”

However the roster breaks down, the Wolves and their new head coach aim to bring a smile to the faces of old-school fans.

“We want to be the team of details,” Steve Hilborn said. “To do the little things right that add up to runs at the plate, outs on defense, and eventually wins.”

Steve Hilborn plots strategy.

Maddie Georges, the best at what she does. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Maddie Georges always sets others up for success.

Across her four-year run as a varsity high school athlete, the Coupeville senior has always put team first.

Part of it is the positions she plays — setter in volleyball and point guard in basketball.

But Georges rises above the constraints of her role, putting her own distinctive spin on each play, each game, each season.

Like others from her generation, she didn’t get her full time on the floor, as a worldwide pandemic carved away games and practice time.

Instead of focusing on what could have been, though, or complaining about also having to fight through injuries, Georges seized every moment she was given.

An All-State volleyball player and an All-League basketball star, she proved to be one of the best to ever wear a Wolf uniform.

Facing off with high-powered La Conner, Georges won this tip battle. (Jackie Saia photo)

On the volleyball court Georges flicked passes left, right, forward, and over her shoulder, mixing up her set-ups to keep the defense always on edge.

What she didn’t do was confuse her own teammates, as she almost always placed her big hitters into position to spray kills, slicin’ ‘n dicin’ hapless rivals.

Coupeville’s primary stumbling block the past couple of seasons has been La Conner, which has collected four straight 2B state titles.

Few teams have toppled the Braves, but, led by Georges, the Wolves came as close as any Northwest 2B/1B League program.

Regardless of the score or opponent, Coupeville’s primary setter never conceded a point, keeping the offense flowing while also racking up great gobs o’ service aces, and even a few kills when the moment dictated.

Georges put a bow on her high school volleyball career by joining Wolf teammate Alita Blouin at the All-State event after her senior season, following in the footsteps of older brother Alex Evans, an All-State baseball player back in the day.

Sharing All-State honors with Alita Blouin. (Suzan Georges photo)

On the basketball court Georges was a cold-blooded assassin, capable of drilling three-balls from all angles, while also a master at crashing to the hoop for hard-earned buckets.

She finished her hardwood run as the #24 scorer in CHS girls’ hoops history, rattling the rim for 407 points.

And yet, if Georges was a bit greedier, she could have been much higher on the list, which launched in 1974.

It’s to her credit that she never simply accepted life as a gunner, however.

Put in charge of Coupeville’s offensive attack, Georges was a largely pass-first player, always looking to get others involved and keep the defense guessing.

A strong passer, a deceptively talented rebounder, and a master at drawing offensive charges after scrambling back into position, she played the complete game, making her team far better for it.

Everyone enjoys hearing the ball splash through the net, but the smart player, the complete player, knows when to rain down shots, and when to sacrifice for the growth of the team.

Georges, always, was the smart player.

Putting a cap on a stellar prep hoops career. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

As she wraps up her high school days, putting a final stamp on academic life this spring, Georges should be in the mix when the school tallies its Athlete of the Year votes from coaches.

Before then, though, let’s take a moment to give her a different honor.

With no spring sports on her schedule, now is a perfect time to welcome the selfless one to the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame.

After this, when you slide past the Legends tab at the top of the blog, that’s where you’ll find Georges, fulfilling a destiny I foretold years ago.

A mere young gun, but already a hardwood killer. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

From her days as a precocious young star to her time as a seasoned vet, she has been at the forefront of Coupeville athletics seemingly since her arrival in the world as a baby already rockin’ legendary red hair.

Georges was a softball sensation during her little league days, and could have been a tennis ace, if she had ever given in to my pleas.

But that’s neither here nor there.

Celebrate Maddie for what she chose to accomplish, and how she chose to reach those goals.

Serene on the outside, even when rolling massive side eye at her fan section from time to time, but fiery on the inside, with a burning passion which few can match, she is a great example to young athletes coming up behind her.

Play for the name on the front of the jersey and walk away at the end knowing you truly gave everything you had.

Every school, every town, every team needs a Maddie Georges, but you don’t always get what you deserve.

We did, as Coupeville hit the jackpot with her.

She’s something special, both as an athlete and a young woman, and I hope she knows what a positive impact she made.

You get an “A” for defensive effort. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

It’s still raining.

A day after a substantial amount of chunky hail peppered parts of Whidbey Island, the Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball squads dropped numerous buckets from above on visiting Granite Falls.

With 14 different Wolves scoring in their home gym Monday afternoon, CMS won a game and came within a basket of forcing overtime in another.

How the day played out:

 

Level 1:

Coupeville’s top squad built an early lead, but couldn’t hang on late, and was nipped 23-21 in a nip-and-tuck battle.

Five different Wolves kissed the ball off the backboard in the second quarter, sending CMS into the halftime break up 14-8.

Unfortunately for local fans, the visitors clamped down on the defensive side of the ball in the second half, cutting their deficit to 17-14 after three quarters, before pulling away for the narrow win.

8th grade ace Haylee Armstrong paced the Wolves with a team-high eight points, with Capri Anter chipping in with four.

Sydney Van Dyke (2), Rhylin Price (2), Tamsin Ward (2), Adeline Maynes (2), and Tenley Stuurmans (1) also scored, with Lexis Drake rounding out the active roster.

 

Level 2:

The Wolves bolted out to a quick lead, then held on for the victory in a defensive-minded rumble.

Holding Granite scoreless in the second quarter, Coupeville pushed a 4-2 lead at the first break out to a 10-2 advantage at the half, with the two teams combining for just 10 points in the second half.

Ari Cunningham had the hot hand for the Wolves, banking in six points, with Lillie Ketterling (4), Lina Shelly (2), and Melanie Wolfe (2) also tallying points for CMS.

Kennedy O’Neill, Izzy Bowder, Taylor Marrs, Amaiya Curry, and Isa De Souza Oliveira Mc Fetridge all saw floor time as well.

 

Level 3:

You got me.

The Wolves lost 28-12, but it’s tricky to know more.

My sister is in Antarctica for two weeks (seriously), so I’m holding down the farm — and three nephews, two dogs, a cat, 75,612 chickens, and assorted wayward coyotes — and unable to attend any of the home games in person.

Monday’s book?

Willow Leedy-Bonifas is visible, pulling off the Beyonce-style one-name thing, but everyone else appears to have joined the Witness Relocation Program and I have no list of players matching names with jersey #’s, so…

 

What’s next:

Coupeville has a busy week, traveling to Lakewood Tuesday, before hosting Sultan Thursday. Tipoff is 3:15 PM.

The season wraps the following week, with a final home royal rumble Thursday, Mar. 9 against South Whidbey.