Coupeville Sports

Stone returns to her hardwood home

December 4, 2021 by David Svien

After sitting out with an injury, Makana Stone returned to action Saturday in England. (Photo property Leicester Riders)

Back where she wants to be.

After being sidelined for two games due to an injury, Coupeville’s Makana Stone returned to hardwood action Saturday in England.

The former Wolf and her Leicester Riders teammates took a break from regular-season Women’s British Basketball League action, facing off with the Newcastle Eagles in the semifinals of the WBBL Cup.

And while the final result wasn’t what Stone and Co. might have hoped for, as Newcastle rallied for a 50-45 win, Coupeville’s progeny got a chance to get back in the flow of things with 22 minutes of court time.

That’s a huge improvement after an injury limited her to just four minutes total across her team’s last two games.

The loss, which came in the semifinals of the WBBL Cup, eliminates Leicester from title contention after it opened the tourney with three-straight wins.

The Riders are 8-3 overall, and 5-2 in league play, which they return to Sunday when they face off with the Durham Palatinates.

Saturday’s game was a close one from start to finish, with Newcastle busting out to a 16-9 lead after one quarter of play.

Leicester trimmed its deficit down to 27-23 by the half, before using a 16-7 surge in the third quarter to claim the lead.

The Riders couldn’t hold on, however, as Newcastle closed on a 10-2 run over the final five minutes.

Oceana Hamilton slid a pair of free throws through the net with 2:45 to play, giving Leicester its final lead at 45-44.

Newcastle netted a go-ahead three-ball, before closing the game with three free throws, while the Riders missed their final four shots of the day.

Stone was the lone Leicester player to score off the bench, rattling home four points to go with two assists, a steal, and a rebound.

Hannah Robb paced the Riders with 14 points, but her team combined to shoot just a hair under 28% from the floor, making just 19 of 68 shots.

On the season, Stone has racked up 61 points, 52 rebounds, 13 assists, and seven steals.

Posted in Basketball | Tagged Basketball, Leicester Riders, Makana Stone, WBBL Cup, Women's British Basketball League | Leave a Comment »

Hoops hotshots get a close-up

December 3, 2021 by David Svien

Gwen Gustafson slices past her defender. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

It was a strong debut.

Holding off an opponent from a bigger school, the Coupeville High School varsity girls basketball squad opened its season Wednesday with a big win over Granite Falls.

While the Wolf JV came up short on the scoreboard in its tilt, the second team played strongly as well.

Bouncing between gyms, wanderin’ photographer John Fisken snapped away, capturing the images seen above and below.

To see everything he captured, pop over to:

https://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/Coupeville-Basketball-2021-2022/GBB-2021-12-01-vs-Granite-Falls/

Izzy Wells scores a key bucket in crunch time.

Abby Mulholland’s rival bows before her.

Savina Wells flies to the rack.

The Wolf JV watches the action unfold.

Ja’Kenya Hoskins ponders her options.

Audrianna Shaw ventures into enemy territory.

CHS varsity coach Megan Smith has a chat with her players.

Posted in Girls Basketball | Tagged CHS Wolves, girls basketball, Gwen Gustafson, John Fisken photos, season opener | Leave a Comment »

Loud crowd, so proud

December 3, 2021 by David Svien

Bella Velasco gets the crowd fired up. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

They were loud, and they were proud.

The joint was packed Wednesday, as Coupeville High School’s basketball teams celebrated opening night with a pair of varsity wins.

The Wolf girls toppled Granite Falls, while the CHS boys whacked Oak Harbor, sending Coupeville fans home happy.

The pics above and below, which come to us courtesy John Fisken, capture Wolf fans, and cheerleaders, hard at work bringing the noise, and the funk.

Wolf athletes (left to right) Sophie Martin, Audrianna Shaw, and Kylie Van Velkinburgh show up to support their classmates.

Samantha Streitler debates whether to let the pro-Coupeville crowd get REALLY loud. Spoiler: she chose yes.

The paparazzi has arrived.

Cheer Corner, an exclusive piece of gym property.

Pre-game prep in the hallway.

Hayley Fiedler ponders the mysteries of the universe during a break in the action.

Hadley Eager is ready to throw hands, if necessary.

The Wolf student section out-shouts Oak Harbor.

Posted in Cheer, Fashionable Fans | Tagged Basketball, Bella Velasco, cheerleaders, CHS Wolves, John Fisken photos | Leave a Comment »

Big win, big photos

December 3, 2021 by David Svien

Hunter Bronec gets a new season kick-started. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The gym was loud enough you couldn’t hear the camera clicks.

But they were there, as John Fisken wandered here and there Wednesday night, capturing images from both the Coupeville High School boys varsity and JV games on opening night.

To see everything he snapped, pop over to:

https://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/Coupeville-Basketball-2021-2022/BBB-2021-12-01-vs-Oak-Harbor/

Hawthorne Wolfe gets fancy.

Ryan Blouin rifles a pass over the defense.

Logan Downes bolts to the hoop.

JV coach Hunter Smith discusses strategy.

Cole White dazzles like his dad, Greg (second from right), did back in the day.

Zane Oldenstadt dominates in the paint.

That moment when a 2B school beats a 3A one, and makes sure the losing team’s 10-mile trip home will feel like 1,000 miles.

Posted in Boys Basketball | Tagged Boys Basketball, CHS Wolves, Hawthorne Wolfe, John Fisken photos, Logan Downes | Leave a Comment »

JV girls battle from tip to final buzzer

December 2, 2021 by David Svien

Katie Marti and the Coupeville JV put up a strong fight on opening night. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Things got away from them for a bit.

Down just three points at the half Wednesday, the Coupeville High School JV girls basketball squad hit an offensive lull in the second half, and didn’t have time to recover against visiting Granite Falls.

Using a 22-12 surge to put the game away, the Tigers escaped with a 31-18 non-conference win in the season opener.

A young Coupeville team which features eight freshmen gets a chance to bounce back quickly, however, hosting Forks Saturday afternoon.

Wednesday’s tilt, against a former league rival, pitted the 2B Wolves against 1A Granite, while also being the debut for new Coupeville JV coach Greg Turcott.

Skylar Parker knocked down the first bucket of the season for Coupeville’s second squad, but the Wolves trailed 5-2 at the first break.

CHS hung tough, down just 9-6 at the half in a defensive showdown, before Granite used a 12-6 run in the third to put some distance between the two teams.

Coupeville spread out its offense on opening night, with six different players singing the nets.

Madison McMillan, Desi Ramirez-Vasquez, and Parker paced the Wolves with four points apiece, while Mia Farris, Bryley Gilbert, and Kayla Arnold each chipped in with a bucket.

Reese Wilkinson, Jada Heaton, Chloe Marzocca, Katie Marti, and Yodnum Nakakul also saw floor time for Coupeville.