Jared Helmstadter (14), seen here in an earlier-season game, torched Granite Falls for 22 Tuesday — the most any Wolf has scored this season. (John Fisken photo)
It was like death by a thousand paper cuts.
Time and again, the Coupeville High School JV boys’ basketball team would pull close to visiting Granite Falls Tuesday night, only to then watch the Tigers go off on another mini-rally.
Six points here, five points there, another six points, and eventually it was too much to overcome, even on a night when sophomore Jared Helmstadter put together the best one-player scoring effort of any Wolf this season, boy or girl, JV or varsity.
Scoring in every quarter, with a mix of smooth jumpers and tough buckets off of big rebounds, Helmstadter threw down 22 points in a 79-55 Cascade Conference loss.
Stamping his feet emphatically on the hardwood when he would come to a screeching halt on the fast break, then whipping upwards and sinking another soft shot, he drained four, seven, seven and four points over the course of the four quarters.
Helmstadter was still fighting long after the game was decided. His final points came off of a pair of free throws after he was fouled while ripping down an offensive rebound with under 10 seconds to play.
After a horrifying start, in which they fell behind 12-1, the Wolves regrouped and made it a close game for two-plus quarters.
Coupeville got within four midway through the second quarter when DeAndre Mitchell drained a jumper, than started the third quarter off with a bang.
Down 39-30 at the break, the Wolves opened with a three-point play from Helmstadter, who converted an in-bounds pass into a bucket and free throw. When CJ Smith hit a runner in the paint, CHS was within 41-35.
But once again Granite Falls put together a quick, efficient run, and this one was the killer. An 11-2 surge capped with a long three-pointer, it stretched the lead out too far for the Wolves to continue cutting into.
DeAndre Mitchell backed up Helmstadter with seven points, while Smith, Gabe Wynn and Dante Mitchell each scorched the nets for six.
Oscar Liquidano popped for three, Clay Reilly and Grey Rische each netted a bucket and Isaac Vargas tickled the twine for a free throw to round out the scoring attack.
Coupeville Sports 