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Posts Tagged ‘Basketball’

You don’t want none of this

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on June 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Ulrik Wells was a force on both ends of the floor Tuesday, as Coupeville drilled Friday Harbor 54-41 in a scrimmage. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

No one has touched them this spring.

And with that word – spring – we can probably simmer down, but still, the Coupeville High School boys basketball team is off to a strong start.

First came a 5-0 run through the Crescent Classic, and Tuesday, it was time for the Wolves to lace up their sneakers and go toe-to-toe, and three-ball-to-three-ball, with visiting Friday Harbor in a scrimmage.

Playing two 25-minute halves, with a running clock and refs working the floor, Coupeville rebounded from a slow start, then poured it on, building a 24-point second-half lead before walking off with a 54-41 victory.

And it was those three-balls which did a lot of the damage.

Back-to-back daggers from Hawthorne Wolfe and Logan Martin gave the Wolves the lead for good midway through the first half, and, by the time it was done, CHS rained down 10 shots from behind the arc.

The two teams played with very different styles, as Coupeville won the three-point battle 10-3 (providing a nice 30-9 cushion), while Friday Harbor spent much more time at the free-throw line, carving out a 16-4 advantage in made shots.

In the early going, the Wolves hit the boards with ferocity, getting strong glass-cleaning work from the trio of Ulrik Wells, Gavin Knoblich, and Jacobi Pilgrim.

Only problem is, Coupeville couldn’t get anything to drop, going nearly five minutes into the game before any of its players found the bottom of the net.

That was Knoblich, who finally broke the seal on the rim, banging home a short runner in the paint off a feed from Sean Toomey-Stout.

Koa Davison immediately hit a shot of his own the next trip down the floor, pulling off a bang-bang give-and-go play with Knoblich.

That cut the margin to 5-4, and the game stayed as a one or two basket affair for the game’s first 14 minutes.

Daniel Olson picked the pocket of a Friday Harbor guard, then crashed end-to-end, smacking the layup home under great duress, to stake CHS to its first lead at 8-7.

But it was the final 10-11 minutes of the first half which radically changed the flow of the game.

Three different Wolves — Martin, Wolfe, and Davison — splashed home three-balls as Coupeville went on an 11-0 run, gave back one single, solitary bucket, then tacked on another quick seven points.

The eventual 18-2 surge carried CHS into the halftime locker room up 26-13, and Friday Harbor would never remotely sniff the lead again.

The Wolves, who had a 12-7 advantage in players — even with varsity vets Mason Grove and Jered Brown sitting out the game — used their depth to run the visitors a bit ragged, especially after the break.

Coupeville used a 14-3 surge coming out of the break, with Wolfe hitting for eight of the points, to push its lead out to 40-16, which would be the high-water mark for the afternoon.

Brad Sherman’s squad mixed it up, using the long ball to knock Friday Harbor back on its heels, before utilizing crisp, efficient passing to garner buckets on quick slashes to the hoop.

While Wolfe dropped three of his four treys in the second half, his prettiest bucket came on a little one-hander that was set up by a one-man-wrecking-crew play from Wells.

The CHS big man took the ball three-quarters the length of the court, sucked the defense to him, then flicked a perfect lil’ set-up pass to Wolfe, who was strolling through the paint, acting all innocent until he gutted the defense.

Other Coupeville players had big moments, as well.

Knoblich nailed back-to-back buckets, one after he chased down a loose ball, then spun and hit nothing but net, the other on a shot which made almost as many bounces on the rim as Kawhi Leonard’s series winner against Philly.

When Wells wasn’t setting others up, he was benefiting from the positive karma he had collected.

Martin, holding down the back line, went airborne to reject a Friday Harbor shot, smashing the ball right onto Wolfe’s fingertips.

Skipping second gear, and going right to third, Wolfe spun down the right side of the court, before zipping the ball on a bead to Wells coming down the left, setting him up for a sweet layup.

Then there was Xavier Murdy, the right man in the right place, with the right touch on the ball.

Davison drove the lane, got hammered by multiple enforcers, and saw the ball pop loose and shoot towards the sideline.

But, a mere moment before the orb disappeared for good, Murdy, coming in hot, yanked the ball out of the air, reversed on a dime and let fly with a fall-away three-ball.

Time stopped for a second, then ball tickled the twines as it landed with a soft, satisfying plop, sending Wolf JV players in the stands into near hysterics.

In the end, nine of the 12 Wolves in uniform scored, led by Wolfe’s game-high 15-point performance.

Knoblich (6), Martin (6), Jean Lund-Olsen (6), Davison (5), Murdy (5), Olson (5), Wells (4), and Toomey-Stout (2) also scored.

Wolfe ruffled the nets for a crowd-pleasing four treys, while Lund-Olsen and Martin netted two apiece. Murdy and Davison rounded out the three-ball assassins.

While they didn’t score, Pilgrim, Tucker Hall, and Sage Downes all delivered with strong work on the defensive end of the floor.

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McGee aims for growth today, success tomorrow

Posted in Girls Basketball, Track, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , , on June 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Trinity McGee, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, is a three-sport athlete. (Photos courtesy Angela McGee)

McGee (4), here playing club volleyball, is “very passionate” about her favorite sport.

With one eye on the future, and one eye on improving daily, she’s a young woman who wants to make history.

Trinity McGee doesn’t back down.

The three-sport athlete, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, approaches each game, each practice, ready to rock the joint.

Whether she’s playing volleyball or basketball, or competing in track and field, McGee is fully committed.

“A strength I have in my sports is my aggressiveness,” she said. “When I go to hit the ball in volleyball I gather all my anger and just slam the ball down.

“When in a basketball game I use my aggressiveness to get me to the other side of the court and push myself to the extreme.”

As she transitions to high school, McGee plans to continue with all three of her sports, enjoying the chance to stay active and involved all year long.

“Doing three sports keeps me busy,” she said. “And I get more exercise and stay healthy while moving and practicing.”

But, while McGee enjoys all three, volleyball is nearest and dearest to her heart.

“I feel very passionate about it,” she said. “I would definitely say that volleyball is my favorite sport because of the strategic system.

“You have to communicate with your team on a good strategy that will get the ball over the net and have the rivals speechless,” McGee added. “I also love diving and digging the rivals serves.

“When I get a good dig in, I feel accomplished and proud.”

Whether it’s playing club volleyball or working on her shot in basketball, McGee is always looking to improve.

“I would like to work on my form for shooting and my footwork for hitting,” she said. “But I know that if I work hard enough I can accomplish things I thought I’d never be able to in the past.”

McGee has a vision of future success, and is striving to get herself there.

“My goal is to get better and better and work harder at my sports so that I can have a good chance at getting a scholarship or breaking a record,” she said.

“I have always looked up at the record boards and imagined what it would be like to have my name up there,” McGee added. “Then I decided to try my hardest to make it happen.”

As she has progressed through middle school sports, her coaches and teammates have proved to be invaluable for a young woman on the rise in the classroom and athletic arena.

“In any sport, (teammate) Maddie Georges has always lifted me up when I am down,” McGee said. “Telling me everyone makes mistakes and it’s okay.

“She is the reason that I don’t get down on myself like I used to; she has brought me a long way into the game.”

While playing multiple sports, both in the school system and outside, McGee has had numerous coaches already, and she credits them for helping with her growth.

“Most of all, I would like to thank my coaches for teaching me everything I know from this day on,” she said. “If they were not as caring and determined as they were, I wouldn’t be here today, playing and enjoying sports.”

During her brief down time, McGee enjoys “reading a good book or spending class in Language Arts with Mrs. (Casie) Greve,” woodworking with her dad and baking with her mom.

“Spending time with the people I care about makes life better when I’m not practicing,” she said. “I’d also like to thank my parents for supporting me through everything that happens with my sports and being by my side.”

While the fast-rising young star dreams of big accomplishments, and works to make them a reality, her love of sports ultimately comes down to one thing – happiness.

“Being an athlete is enjoyable because I get to be recognized for something I’m good at and passionate about,” McGee said.

“Also, you get to play with a team and know you’re not alone,” she added. “All the pep talks and the cheers get your adrenaline running and that’s what makes the game fun!”

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Two to rule the school

Posted in awards, tagged , , , , on June 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Lindsey Roberts was tabbed Tuesday as the CHS Female Athlete of the Year. She’s the third member of her family to win the school’s top athletic honor. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Sean Toomey-Stout was named the school’s Male Athlete of the Year. (Photo by Brian Vick)

Their time has come.

Lindsey Roberts and Sean Toomey-Stout walked away with the biggest athletic honors Coupeville High School bestows Tuesday night, as each was named Athlete of the Year for the 2018-2019 school year.

Roberts, a senior, becomes the third member of her family to see her portrait go up in the hallway outside the CHS gym.

She joins parents Sherry (Bonacci) and Jon Roberts, who both were honored in the ’80s.

Lindsey has been a star since day one of her freshman season, and spent every moment of her prep career on varsity teams.

A 12-time letter winner, Roberts played soccer and basketball, and blazed a path to success in the world of track and field.

She exits as the most-honored female athlete in the history of the Wolf track program, having earned eight competitive medals at the state meet.

Lou also holds three school records, appearing on the big board under the 100 hurdles, 4 x 100 relay, and 4 x 200 relay.

A defensive stopper with a cannon for a leg, Roberts scored 17 goals over four years on the pitch, which leaves her in a tie with Genna Wright for #3 on the all-time scoring chart.

On the basketball court, her 448 points carried her to #18 on the all-time scoring chart for a hoops program which has produced 45 years of basketball.

Toomey-Stout, who was slowed down by a football injury a year ago, returned to have a spectacular junior campaign.

He led Coupeville’s football team in virtually every category — offensive, defensive, and special teams — forcing opposing teams to create new schemes in an (often hopeless) effort to stymie his speed and toughness.

During the season, Toomey-Stout also became part of a viral moment, as he returned a kick 90+ yards for a touchdown while a wayward deer blocked for him.

Various videos shot of the play landed everywhere from CNN to USA Today to British television to ESPN.

Once he moved inside for the winter, “The Torpedo” won another team MVP for his play on the hardwood.

Toomey-Stout paced the boys basketball squad in steals, assists, points in the paint, and offensive rebounds, while finishing second in defensive boards and scoring.

Spring provided a nice cap to his stellar year-long run, as he advanced to the state track meet in both the 100 and long jump.

While a juggled baton hand-off at bi-districts denied Coupeville’s 4 x 100 boys relay team a trip to state, Toomey-Stout and teammates Danny Conlisk, Jean Lund-Olsen, and Tiger Johnson had the year’s fourth-fastest time among 1A schools.

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“I just like to play sports”

Posted in Girls Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on May 30, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Maddie Georges slices ‘n dices on the basketball court. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

There’s already been one “Maddie Big Time” at Coupeville High School.

Now, there might be two.

For the moment, Maddie Georges, who will be a freshman at CHS in the fall, can go by her other nicknames – “Mad Dog” or “The Wall,” the second of those coming from her defensive stopper skills on the basketball court.

But, as the heir to a strong family athletic history, and a young woman who has shown top-level skills across three sports, she might one day supplant former Wolf great Madeline Strasburg and lay claim to the first nickname.

Georges, who is the younger sister of former CHS standout, and current CMS coach, Alex Evans, plays volleyball, basketball, and softball, and has been an important part of the success of her teams in each sport.

In particular, her 8th grade basketball team went 9-0 with Georges kick-starting the attack, while her Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball squad just finished a 13-1 season.

For her part, Georges is that rare athlete who not only plays, and excels, in three sports, but enjoys them equally.

“When I play a sport more than the others, I like that one more, and it always keeps changing,” she said. “So no (favorites); I just like to play sports.”

She’s been doing it since she was old enough to walk, inspired by her brother, who starred on CHS football, basketball, and baseball teams.

As she’s progressed in her own hoops career, Georges has played several seasons with Evans coaching her, and it’s been a strong partnership.

“He is my idol and I strive to be like him,” Georges said. “And, possibly, someday, be better than him!”

A big fan of the TV show Jane the Virgin, she enjoy spending time with her friends, something she can do in the sports arena and out, as many of them play the same sports as she does.

While she hails her parents as “my biggest supporters, that keep me going,” Georges is very close to many of the girls she suits up with.

“My teammates, especially Alita (Blouin), Carolyn (Lhamon), Gwen (Gustafson), and Nezi (Keiper), we always keep each other going and I can always count on them,” she said.

While each of her sports is unique, they all contribute to building Georges up and helping her be a high achiever.

“The adrenaline rush, the motivation to try to improve my skills, the practices, and, especially, I love working with my teammates,” Georges said. “They help me strive to get better.”

With the ball frequently in her hands, working as a volleyball setter, a basketball point guard, or a softball catcher, she often finds herself as the focal point of the play.

Each time she’s there, or when she’s on the outskirts of the play, or, far more infrequently, grabbing a quick bit of rest on the bench, Georges tries to always be learning, always be improving.

“My strength as an athlete is striving to get better, and I always try to help my teammates,” she said. “I most importantly try to be a team leader, to really uplift my teammates as best I can.”

That’s an important mind-set for a gifted young woman, who aims to excel in academics and sports, and wants to play for as long as she can.

“I want to continue to strive to get better and try to improve as much as possible,” Georges said. “I want to be able to play sports through high school to college.”

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Carolyn Lhamon a star on the rise

Posted in Girls Basketball, Track, tagged , , , , on May 29, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Fast-rising Wolf star Carolyn Lhamon (left) plans to compete in soccer, basketball, and track and field at the high school level. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

If Coupeville wants to head to the water, I know one talented athlete who would be the first to pick up an oar.

Carolyn Lhamon, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School this fall, where she’ll join older sister Catherine, has made it clear she’d consider rowing crew if the Wolves ever offered the sport.

But, while she waits for CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith to add the activity (don’t hold your breath), the younger Lhamon is content to plan out a future in which she’ll bounce from sport to sport over the course of the school year.

That run will start with soccer in the fall, go inside for basketball in the winter, then head back outdoors for track and field when spring arrives.

After she ran cross country in middle school, there was probably some hope Carolyn would team up with Catherine as high school harriers, chasing down rivals and carrying the Wolves back to the heights of success enjoyed in earlier decades.

There’s just one problem with that scenario — the younger Lhamon loves soccer.

“I’ve been playing it the longest and find it overall really fun,” she said.

A veteran of select soccer, SWISH, AAU, and school basketball, as well as school cross country and track, Lhamon has excelled at every sport she’s played.

Tuesday, she claimed 2nd in the shot put at the Cascade League Track and Field Championships, despite only picking up the event recently while dealing with shin splints.

Yet, she ripped off a throw at Lakewood High School which was more than five feet better than her previous PR, and is now ranked #9 in the entire state among female middle school throwers.

Lhamon, who enjoys “practices and socializing with teammates and winning,” would like to work on “stressing out less about games and meets.”

That being said, the fast-rising star, who credits mom Helene “and all my coaches and too many teammates to name” for their support, has bold plans for her athletic future.

“Varsity basketball three or four years, varsity soccer three or four years, (go to) state one to two times for track,” are her goals.

And, while she works hard in the arena, Lhamon also devotes considerable effort to the academic side of things, while still carving out time to be social.

“When I’m not playing sports I like hanging out with my friends,” she said. “And, even though I don’t like it, I spend a lot of time studying and doing homework.”

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