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Posts Tagged ‘bi-districts’

Upset denied, playoff hopes still alive

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Hurlee Bronec dominates in the paint. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They had them on the ropes but couldn’t land the knockout punch.

Facing a Mount Vernon Christian squad which went undefeated in league play this season, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball team carried a lead into the fourth quarter in Saturday’s District 1/2 tourney semifinal.

But the Hurricanes rallied, to a 14-1 tune across the last eight minutes, escaping with a 39-30 victory on their home floor, sending the Wolves to the consolation side of the bracket.

Coupeville, now 8-13 on the season, can still net a return trip to state, but it will take three wins in five days.

All of those clashes would play out in the CHS gym, beginning with a Tuesday tilt with Orcas Island.

Beat the Vikings, who they knocked off twice in the regular season, and the Wolves return to their home court Thursday to play either Friday Harbor or Auburn Adventist Academy.

If they’re still alive, Brad Sherman’s squad plays either MVC or La Conner Saturday with a trip to the big dance at stake.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4588

The first two times Coupeville squared off with MVC this season, the Wolves lost 69-50 and 61-47.

Meeting #3 was a different story, however, as CHS clamped down on defense and led at the end of each of the first three quarters.

Neither team racked up many points in the opening frame, with a Hunter Bronec three-ball staking Coupeville to a 6-4 lead at the first break.

From there, the battle was of the royal variety, with the Wolves holding their own against their highly ranked foes.

Up 19-16 at the half, then 29-25 heading into the fourth, Coupeville held the ‘Canes down, until Lucas Millenaar erupted in the final frame.

The MVC senior, who had been held to four points on the night, went off for 13 in the fourth, providing 99.2% of the offense during a game-closing 14-1 surge.

While his team fell just short, Brad Sherman gave postgame kudos to his players.

“Our boys played their hearts out,” said the CHS coach.

Hunter Bronec slices ‘n dices the defense. (Parker Hammons photo)

The Battlin’ Bronec Brothers led the way, with Hurlee tossing in a team-high 12 points and Hunter adding seven in support of his twin.

Chase Anderson (6), Camden Glover (3), and Jack Porter (2) rounded out the scoring, with Landon Roberts, Johnny Porter, and Malachi Somes also seeing floor time for the Wolves.

Three different CHS players reached personal milestones in the game, with Hurlee Bronec (261) cracking the 250-point club, while Hunter Bronec (200) and Camden Glover (102) also hit noteworthy numbers.

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Slow start, ferocious finish

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , , on February 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Teagan Calkins loves to win. (Parker Hammons photo)

It took a moment or two, but then everything clicked into place.

Getting revved up after a lackluster start Thursday, the Coupeville High School varsity girls’ basketball team turned on the offensive fireworks and romped to a win in its playoff opener.

From five points down to 17 up, the Wolves rode the rollercoaster before exiting with a 45-36 win over visiting Auburn Adventist Academy.

The win lifts CHS to 9-10 on the season and sends them to the semifinals of the double-elimination District 1/2 tourney.

Megan Richter’s squad heads to Mount Vernon Christian Saturday, and win or lose, will host its third playoff bout.

Upset top-ranked MVC and the Wolves advance to the title game, set for the CHS gym Feb. 20.

Lose Saturday, and Coupeville hosts Friday Harbor — which it has beat twice this season — Feb. 18 in a loser-out game.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4590

Thursday’s tilt started nicely, with CHS senior Lyla Stuurmans banking in the first bucket of the game.

Then, things went sideways for the Wolves.

Shots rimmed out, passes sailed over outstretched fingertips, and Auburn slowly crawled out to a 7-2 lead as the first break neared.

Coupeville needed a spark, and it found one in the magic shooting fingers of Mia Farris.

The Wolf senior beat the defense, and the clock, knocking down a pullup jumper with three ticks left on the clock in the first quarter, and the comeback fuse was lit.

And how, as Coupeville suddenly found its offensive groove, going on a 20-6 rampage in the second frame.

It started with Teagan Calkins slashing down the baseline for a leaning layup and closed with Farris converting an offensive rebound into a second-chance bucket with … wait for it … three ticks left on the clock.

Truly “Mia the Magnificent,” marinating in her moment.

Lyla Stuurmans, kind of a legend. (Bailey Thule photo)

In between those two buckets, Coupeville got big plays from Tenley Stuurmans — netting three free throws after being fouled while shooting a three-ball — and big sis Lyla.

The elder Stuurmans, who is closing her run as the only girl in school history to play five seasons of varsity basketball, snapped the net on a trey which gave her precisely 250 career points at that moment.

The pass which set up the historic three-ball? It was delivered by Tenley Stuurmans.

Sparked by an opportunistic defense which created a ton of loose balls and second-chance shots, the Wolves rambled into the halftime locker room with a 24-13 lead and a strut in their collective steps.

To which Auburn Adventist declared, “We’re not dead just yet.”

The visitors hit back-to-back three-balls as part of an 8-0 surge to open the third, cutting the deficit down to 24-21 and hope briefly flickered for their fans.

But the Wolves weren’t having it.

Not missing a beat, Coupeville immediately rallied for its own 13-0 run, with five different players scoring, before capping the quarter with a layup from Madison McMillan.

Which sank through the net with … three ticks left on the clock … making for an uncanny run of quarter-ending buzzer-beaters from the Wolves.

Coupeville eventually stretched the advantage all the way out to 17 at 43-26 in the fourth quarter, before Auburn rallied late to get the final score back down to a more-reasonable margin.

For the only time all night, the Wolves did NOT end a quarter with a buzzer-beater, electing just to dribble out the final seconds as their fans and classmates celebrated.

Mia Farris prepares to pick apart the defense. (Bailey Thule photo)

Calkins led the way with a team-high 12 points, while Tenley Stuurmans (9), Lyla Stuurmans (7), Farris (6), McMillan (6), Haylee Armstrong (3), and Katie Marti (2) also scored.

Defensive dynamos Jada Heaton and Danica Strong rounded out the rotation, blitzing Auburn shooters and making them flinch all game.

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Balanced scoring, feisty defense spark playoff win

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Jack Porter delivers presents to the hoop. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Third time was still a charm.

Powered by a balanced scoring attack and a ferocious defensive surge, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball team opened the playoffs Thursday by winning against a familiar foe.

With three Wolves providing double-digit scoring, and a fourth missing by just a single point, Brad Sherman’s squad bounced visiting Friday Harbor 43-36.

With the win, Coupeville gets to 8-12 on the season and advances to the semifinals of the double-elimination District 1/2 tourney.

The Wolves hit the road Saturday to play top-seeded Mount Vernon Christian, before returning to Cow Town for playoff game #3.

Upset MVC, and Coupeville plays in the Bi-District title game Feb. 20 on its home floor, with a trip to state at stake.

Lose to the Hurricanes, and the Wolves host either Orcas Island or Summit Atlas Feb. 18 in a loser-out game.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4588

Thursday’s playoff rumble was the third meeting this season between Coupeville and Friday Harbor, with the Wolves winning by four points in both game #1 and #2.

This time around, CHS flirted with a 10-point lead twice, controlled the action for most of the 32-minute running time, and never flinched from the spotlight.

Even when leading scorer Chase Anderson hurt his foot less than a minute into play and had to be tended to on the sideline.

While the junior net burner was being taped up, the Wolves spread the offensive love between Hurlee Bronec, Landon Roberts, and Jack Porter, bolting out to a 7-4 lead.

Anderson immediately had an impact the moment he returned to the court, busting through the Friday Harbor defense for a three-point play the hard way.

Taking a pass from Bronec, a half-second after a Wolf steal, he crashed hard to the hoop, slapped the ball home, then sauntered to the free throw line and drained the charity shot he was awarded for being smashed around the head and shoulders.

Anderson returned the favor to the Bronec family, feeding Hurlee’s twin brother Hunter for a bucket off another steal, and CHS had a lead it would never relinquish,

Up 14-9 at the first break, the Wolves opened the second quarter with a savage display of defensive intensity.

“Stop touching my basketball!!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The Battlin’ Bronec Brothers delivered back-to-back booming blocked shots, making the paint a no-fly zone for the visitors.

With Porter raining down buckets, and Anderson drilling a three-ball from the right side, Coupeville shoved the lead out to nine points, then went to the halftime break with a 25-18 advantage.

With the defense continuing to come up big — Camden Glover was a beast on the boards and fighting for loose balls — the Wolves threatened to turn the game into a blowout.

But Friday Harbor’s hardwood aces still had some fight left in them, carving a double-digit deficit all the way back down to just 32-30 late in the third.

Enter the Battlin’ Bronec Brothers and exit any doubts.

Hurlee (left) and Hunter, the Battlin’ Bronec Brothers. (CHS Yearbook Staff photo)

Hunter and Hurlee combined to go on their own game-busting 9-3 run across the final minute of the third frame and a major chunk of the fourth, and the deed was done.

Anderson became the first non-Bronec to score across seven minutes and change, banking in a jumper, before Friday Harbor nailed one last futile three-ball.

Sherman kept it lean ‘n mean, with a seven-man rotation on this night, and everyone contributed.

Hurlee Bronec, Porter, and Anderson each scored 10 points, with Hunter Bronec banging away for nine and Landon Roberts chipping in with four.

Porter, who began the game with 149 career varsity points, cracked the 150-point club, while Hurlee Bronec needs just one point against Mount Vernon to reach 250.

Glover, who made life miserable for Friday Harbor’s big men, and scrappy guard Malachi Somes rounded out the rotation, both delivering key performances in supporting roles.

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Hardwood heroes open playoffs at home

Posted in Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Lyla Stuurmans and friends are ready to tip off playoff action. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The path is set, and the journey begins on their own court.

Both the Coupeville High School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams open the double-elimination District 1/2 tourney in the CHS gym this Thursday, Feb. 13.

Megan Richter’s squad of female hardcourt assassins host Auburn Adventist Academy at 7:00 PM, with Brad Sherman’s bruisers welcoming Friday Harbor to Cow Town for a 5:00 PM tipoff.

Win or lose, both Wolf teams will live to play at least one more postseason game as the tourney runs between Feb. 13-22.

Two schools advance to state from each royal rumble, with seven boys’ teams and six girls’ squads competing for the tickets.

The Wolf girls are 8-10 heading into the playoffs, with Auburn Adventist coming in at 6-7.

Coupeville’s boys sit at 7-12, and this is their third meeting with Friday Harbor (4-14) this season, having won 47-43 on the road and 50-46 at home on Senior Night.

One final run for postseason glory.

 

The brackets:

 

Girls:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4590

 

Boys:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4588

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Another night, another gem

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on November 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The champs. (Mark Saia photo)

The Wolf spikers are making history on a daily basis.

Led by a very strong pack of seniors, the 2024 edition of the Coupeville High School varsity volleyball squad continues to put together a run like no other.

The latest conquest came Saturday at La Conner, where the Wolves polished off Orcas Island in straight sets to get to a program-record 16-0, claim the District 1/2 title, and punch a return trip to the state tourney.

Keyed by a hit-happy offense and a scrambling defense, CHS swept the Vikings off the floor to a 25-4, 25-20, 25-15 tune.

“Really proud of all the people and effort — well before tonight — that went into a district championship,” said Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore.

“We came out firing in the first and they made some adjustments to keep it a lot closer in the second.

“But going up 2-0 I was proud of the girls for keeping laser focus on the goal, playing point-to-point and finishing the job.”

The Wolves celebrate on Instagram, and I am here to poach the pics.

Senior setter Katie Marti, having flown past 1,000 career assists recently, continued to add to her torrid total, lofting pinpoint passes to her big hitters.

And whether the ball landed on the ferocious fingertips of Mia Farris, Teagan Calkins, Madison McMillan, or Lyla Stuurmans, the hapless orb quickly got the crud pounded out of it.

Spraying kills from all angles, the Wolves were, once again, too much for Orcas to handle for an extended period of time.

“Our offense looked really sharp all night, hitting with very few errors and very in-rhythm,” Whitmore said.

Teagan Calkins, Coupeville’s kill queen this season, basks in the afterglow. (Mark Saia photo)

“I’m so proud of how we’ve prepared in practice for these chances to play in big games,” Whitmore said. “And, of course, I’m proud of our program pushing to return to state.

“We are looking forward to the experience and pushing to play as deep into playoffs as possible.”

Coupeville, which is currently ranked #2 among all 2B schools by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, will find out its state tourney path Sunday, when teams are seeded, and the 16-team bracket is announced.

The double-elimination rumble is set for Nov. 13-14 at the Yakima SunDome.

This is the seventh time Coupeville volleyball has advanced to the big dance, and the third under Whitmore.

The Wolves, led by coaches Kim Meche and Toni Crebbin, qualified four straight years from 2001-2004, before making it back in 2017 and 2023 with Whitmore at the helm.

 

Saturday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 4 digs
Teagan Calkins — 8 kills, 1 block assist
Mia Farris — 10 kills, 5 digs, 4 aces
Jada Heaton — 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 block assist
Katie Marti — 1 kill, 4 digs, 26 assists, 6 aces
Madison McMillan — 3 kills, 9 digs, 3 assists
Lyla Stuurmans — 11 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace, 2 solo blocks
Tenley Stuurmans — 2 digs, 1 assist

Coupeville’s seniors roll on. (Jennifer Heaton photo)

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