The Wolf JV celebrates during their final ferry ride of the season. (Amy King photo)
Different team, same tune.
Capping a miracle season that virtually mirrors that of the Wolf varsity, the Coupeville JV girls’ hoops squad drilled host Klahowya 47-27 Monday night.
The victory, their eighth straight, gave the Wolf young guns a final record of 14-5 overall, 9-0 in Olympic League play.
In their first-ever season in the new four-team league, the CHS girls combined to go 18-0 against Port Townsend, Chimacum and Klahowya.
Perhaps already dreaming about the pending post-game celebration (or having to play second due to scheduling for a possible run to the ferry), the Wolves came out a bit cold Monday, then turned it on with a passion.
Trailing 5-3 after one (Klahowya hit a late three-point bomb to snatch the lead), Coupeville went on a 14-4 tear in the second, then put the game out of sight with a 30-18 advantage after the break.
Kicking it up a notch or three hundred on defense keyed the surge.
“Starting in the second quarter, we decided to pick things up and just started intercepting passes, getting steal after steal,” said Wolf coach Amy King. “Of course, sometimes we would steal only to blindly pass and have them steal right back, only for us to steal again and get down the court to score.
“Everybody had steals tonight whether it was reading passes, grabbing it right out of their hands or tipping it away from somebody trying to dribble.”
Klahowya tried to counter with a full-court press, but the Wolf ball-handlers broke it with ease, and most of the CHS offense developed naturally in the flow of the game.
“Our offense came alive and I don’t remember us running even one play,” King said. “Everything was fast break. We had great passing too.”
Two big plays broke Klahowya’s spirit.
The first came when Kailey Kellner launched herself out of bounds in pursuit of a loose ball, snagged it and fired it back to a waiting Tiffany Briscoe.
The second had Skyler Lawrence working the high post with multiple defenders coming out on her. Waiting until she drew them to her, she then banged the ball down low to a wide-open Allison Wenzel.
“That really sparked the team. Everyone worked so hard together,” King said. “When the Lauren’s (Rose and Grove) were out taking a break, Kailey and Kyla (Briscoe) took over the ball handling responsibilities.
“Allison was tough as always on defense, even had two blocks and instructing her teammates the whole game.”
Team-wide the Wolves came extra hard on defense, closing the season with well-honed aggression on display.
“Lauren and Lauren were so tough defensively, Skyler and Tiffany rebounded around the Eagles bigger posts and Kailey played the best game she has played in a little while,” King said. “She helped wherever needed, got air on rebounds and drove strong or just took the outside shots.”
All eight of the Wolves got their moment in the spotlight, seven on the court and one off of it.
“While Brisa (Herrera) couldn’t play, she was on the bench telling her teammates what to watch for, reminding them to keep their heads up to see the floor,” King said. “A lot of encouraging.”
Kellner paced the Wolves with a stat-sheet exploding 15 points, 17 rebounds, seven steals and two blocks, while Grove (13 points, five rebounds, eight steals, two blocks) and Rose (seven points, five rebounds, eight steals) were hot on her heels.
Tiffany Briscoe (four points, ten rebounds, four steals), Lawrence (four points, nine rebounds, two blocks), Wenzel (two points, eight boards, two blocks) and Kyla Briscoe (two points, six rebounds, six steals) all chipped in, as well.
“These girls really wanted to go undefeated in league and gave it everything,” King said. “I have to say, this JV team got better as the season went on.
“They corrected their game on personal levels as well as a team. They talked about what they needed to do and picked each other up continuously,” she added. “All in all, overall, they made my job easy.
“I am going to miss this group.”
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