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Posts Tagged ‘Boys Basketball’

Wolf boys aim for state tourney invite

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , , on February 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville’s Dominic Coffman and La Conner’s Isaiah Price may tangle again in the playoffs. (Chloe Marzocca photo)

It took them 34 years to get back to state. Now they’re looking to go back-to-back.

The Coupeville High School boys’ basketball squad rolls into next week’s bi-district tourney as the #1 seed from District 1, intent on punching a return ticket to the big dance.

This year’s boy’s tourney is a four-team, double-elimination affair, and the Wolves need two wins to be one of two teams to advance.

Wolf coaches plot a winning strategy. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

 

What you need to know:

 

What:

District 1/2 boys’ basketball tourney

 

When:

Feb. 14, 16, 18

 

Where:

Coupeville High School (501 S Main)

 

Admission:

Tickets can be purchased two ways – online or at the door.

No regular season passes are accepted, as playoff money goes to the districts, and not the school hosting the tourney.

Ticket sales at the door are CASH only.

To purchase online, pop over to the GoFan link at:

https://gofan.co/

You select the game and date, then bring your phone with you to the game. The ticket taker will hit redeem on the screen, stamp your hand, and you’re cleared to enter.

Prices are:

$8.00 — Adults and students w/o ASB

$6.00 — Senior citizens, military ID, students with ASB, children (6-12)

 

Bracket:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=3810&view_edits=1

 

Team capsules:

 

Auburn Adventist Academy

Season record: 16-3

League: 1B/2B SeaTac

Trips to state tourney: None

RPI ranking: #11

Results vs. bi-district foes: Lost to Coupeville 59-52, beat La Conner 62-50, beat Northwest Christian 55-28

Coach: Hector Brito

Seniors: Not available

Mascot: Falcons

 

Coupeville

Season record: 13-7

League: Northwest 2B/1B League

Trips to state tourney: 6 (Most recent: 2022)

RPI ranking: #22

Results vs. bi-district foes: Beat AAA 59-52, beat La Conner 57-56 and 60-47

Coach: Brad Sherman

Seniors: Dominic Coffman, Jermiah Copeland, Alex Murdy, Jonathan Valenzuela

Mascot: Wolves

 

La Conner

Season record: 9-12

League: Northwest 2B/1B League

Trips to state tourney: 42 (Most recent: 2019)

RPI ranking: #37

Results vs. bi-district foes: Lost to AAA 62-50, lost to Coupeville 57-56 and 60-47

Coach: CJ Woods

Seniors: Isa Gonzalez-Rojas, Finn Hakenson, Cole Medeiros, Jacob Pommels, Isaiah Price, Braden Thomas

Mascot: Braves

 

Northwest Christian (Lacey)

Season record: 9-9

League: 1B/2B SeaTac

Trips to state tourney: 1 (2013)

RPI ranking: #33

Results vs. bi-district foes: Lost to AAA 55-28

Coach: Not available

Seniors: Musie Dunning, Avery Freese, Levi Mavaega

Mascot: Wolverines

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Wolves lose battle, still ready for war

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

William Davidson eyeballs the paparazzi. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

A bump in the road.

It wasn’t the way the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball team wanted to end the regular season, falling 67-60 at Friday Harbor in a foul-riddled brawl Friday night.

But while the loss drops the Wolves to 13-7 on the season, it ultimately doesn’t matter all that much, except as a lesson to be learned.

Friday Harbor is still NOT going to the postseason, and Coupeville is still the #1 playoff seed from District 1, and that was set in stone long before the Wolves went Island-hopping.

The Wolves host Northwest Christian (Lacey) Tuesday, Feb. 14 in their bi-district opener, then welcome either Auburn Adventist Academy or La Conner to the CHS gym Feb. 16.

Win two games in the four-team double-elimination royal rumble, and Coupeville heads back to the state tourney for the second-straight season.

So, celebrate tonight Friday Harbor boys’ hoops fans, because tomorrow you can start thinking about spring sports.

Dominic Coffman is ready for the playoffs. (Bailey Thule photo)

Friday’s tilt started firmly in favor of Coupeville, took a nasty detour, then became a bare-knuckle slugfest in the late going.

Nick Guay opened the game by hitting a jumper, before the refs discovered the teams were using the smaller basketball normally employed by high school female players.

The basket stood, however, and then Logan Downes and Alex Murdy combined to rain down a trio of three-balls with their normal ball, helping the Wolves build an 11-4 lead midway through the first quarter.

Things got batty from there, however, as Friday Harbor hit a groove (and a bunch of buckets), using a 20-2 surge over the next 6-8 minutes, pulling ahead 24-13.

Coupeville rallied, with Murdy raining down shots while hanging in mid-air, while teammate Jonathan Valenzuela swept up a wayward baby who wandered onto the court during play.

Back within 29-23 at the half, the Wolves were playing with fire, as they have from time to time this season, falling behind, then rallying to crush foes.

This time, however, Friday Harbor didn’t crack, matching CHS bucket for bucket across the third quarter during a 19-19 stalemate.

Cole White hit a variety of pressure-packed shots, freshman Chase Anderson came up with a big steal and breakaway bucket, and Murdy was locked-in as he cracked the 400-point club like older brother Xavier before him.

But the Wolverines stayed patient, hit the boards hard, and netted a string of three-balls to keep the Wolves at bay.

For a moment at least.

Back down by 11 in the fourth quarter, Coupeville went on a 15-4 tear, knotting things up at 59-59 when Downes splashed home a trey from deep on the right side of the floor.

White set the play up with a nifty steal, and an earlier technical foul on the hosts for being chippy helped as well.

But then, as quickly as the comeback had come to life, Coupeville’s shooting touch evaporated.

Friday Harbor, cheered on by La Conner players in the stands (rival schools uniting for a night to heckle the big dogs), hit six free throws in the waning moments.

Tack on a put-back off of an offensive rebound, and the Wolverines were able to slam the door shut.

For this night, at least.

Downes finished with a game-high 29 points, while Murdy banked in 15, and White tickled the twines for 10.

Guay (2), Anderson (2), William Davidson (1), and Coffman (1) also scored, while Ryan Blouin, Zane Oldenstadt, and Valenzuela saw floor time.

With his first three-ball of the night Downes passed Jeff Rhubottom (459 points in 1977-1978), and now has the second-best single-season scoring total, boy or girl, in 106 years of CHS basketball.

The Wolf junior sits with 486 points heading into the playoffs, chasing just Jeff Stone, who rattled the rims for 644 in 1969-1970.

Career-wise, Downes cracks the 700-point club, passing Chris Good (688) to move into 21st place all-time with 710 and counting.

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Burn the nets to the final bucket!

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Hurlee Bronec sticks a jumper. (Morgan White photo)

They would not be denied.

Fighting from behind in the fourth quarter Friday, the Coupeville High School JV boys’ basketball team ended its season with a stirring 56-51 win at Friday Harbor.

The victory was the 10th straight for the high-flying Wolves, who finish 11-3 on the season.

It was a wild ‘n woolly campaign, with Craig Anderson and Jon Roberts taking the coaching reigns for the final three games after head coach Hunter Smith left to start fire school.

Along the way, swing player Chase Anderson moved up full-time to varsity, and big man Mikey Robinett moved out of state with his family.

But no matter who was on the floor, this pack of Wolves was a ferocious one, attacking on defense and spreading the love on offense.

Three different JV players topped 100 points, while a fourth one missed by just a three-ball.

That willingness to share the ball was on full display Friday, as seven different Wolves hit the bottom of the net with at least one shot.

Freshman Camden Glover led the way, torching Friday Harbor for 23 points, while Jack Porter knocked down 13.

Aiden O’Neill (8), Hunter Bronec (4), Johnny Porter (4), Hurlee Bronec (2), and Landon Roberts (2) also scored, with Malachi Somes putting the fear of God into his rivals while scrambling on defense.

The bright future of Wolf basketball. (Photo courtesy Morgan White)

Friday Harbor opened the game strongly, jumping out to a 20-12 lead after one quarter, but Coupeville took control after that, moment by moment, quarter by quarter.

A 17-13 surge in the second frame, fueled by eight points from Glover and a big three-ball off the electric fingertips of O’Neill, cut the deficit to 33-29.

From there, the Wolves narrowed things to 42-41 heading into the fourth, before closing the night on a 15-9 tear.

Jack Porter poured in nine of his 13 points in the final frame, while Coupeville, which was 0-4 at the free-throw line previously, went 5-8 in the waning moments.

 

Final season scoring stats:

Aiden O’Neill – 108
Jack Porter – 105
Hunter Bronec – 102
Camden Glover – 97
Chase Anderson – 71
Johnny Porter – 59
Hurlee Bronec – 46
Malachi Somes – 43
Landon Roberts – 38
Mikey Robinett – 6
Carson Field – 4
Yohannon Sandles – 2

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Court kings celebrate seniors

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Jermiah Copeland and friends were honored on Senior Night, then thunked La Conner. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

First, they celebrated. Then they celebrated some more.

Coupeville High School’s boys’ basketball program honored four seniors Tuesday night before their final regular-season home game.

Then those Wolves — Alex Murdy, Jonathan Valenzuela, Jermiah Copeland, and Dominic Coffman — went out and helped their squad drill arch-rival La Conner.

The win clinched a #1 playoff seed for CHS, guaranteeing the seniors will play at least two playoff games at home.

So, a job well done.

Dominic Coffman

Alex Murdy

Jonathan Valenzuela

CHS hoops guru Brad Sherman joins his four-pack of elder statesmen.

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Defensive dynamos clinch top playoff seed

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Wolf seniors (l to r) Dominic Coffman, Alex Murdy, Jermiah Copeland, and Jonathan Valenzuela were honored Tuesday night. (Morgan White photo)

Level one achievement, unlocked.

Playing aggressive, often-inspired team defense Tuesday, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball squad polished off visiting La Conner 60-47.

That keeps the Wolves undefeated against fellow 2B schools and lifts them to 13-6 overall heading into Friday’s regular-season finale at Friday Harbor.

Winners of 11 of its last 13 games, Coupeville also clinches the #1 playoff seed from District 1 with the win over the Braves.

That guarantees the Wolves will play all their games in the bi-district tourney on their home floor, as they seek to punch a ticket to state in back-to-back seasons for only the second time in program history.

Coupeville hosts Northwest Christian (Lacey), the #2 seed from District 2, Feb. 14, while D-1 #2 La Conner hits the road the same night to face D-2 #1 Auburn Adventist Academy.

The winners play at CHS Feb. 16 for the bi-district title and a state berth.

The losers of the opening games wage a loser-out affair, also at CHS Feb. 16, with the winner of that rumble advancing to a game Feb. 18 against the title game loser for District 1/2’s second state tourney ticket.

Which is a long way to getting around to the fact Coupeville controls its own destiny from here on out, with home cookin’ and rabid Wolf Nation fans within easy reach.

Advance to state, as CHS did last season, breaking a 34-year dry spell, and the Wolves will match the run when both the 1974-1975 and 1975-1976 teams made it to the big dance.

La Conner, as expected, put up a hard fight Tuesday night, but couldn’t quite recreate the same magic it showed in a one-point loss to the Wolves earlier this season.

The first quarter was a donnybrook, however, with Coupeville overcoming a six-point deficit to knot things up at 17-17 thanks to back-to-back three-balls from Logan Downes and Cole White.

CHS senior Jonathan Valenzuela, who gutted the Braves with a buzzer-beating bomb last time, banked in another trey this time out, while Alex Murdy and Dominic Coffman keyed a hyped-up Wolf defense.

Freshman Chase Anderson soon joined the shut-down brigade, coming on to harass, irritate, and thoroughly chafe any La Conner gunner who touched the ball.

Scrappy beyond his years, and also capable of tossing down a bank shot under duress on offense, “The Magic Man” was the secret ingredient in Wolf coach Brad Sherman’s defensive gumbo, and he drove several Braves batty.

Which is awesome.

The game remained a war of attrition through much of the second quarter, with four ties and several lead changes, before Coupeville made its move.

Coffman, hanging high in the air, yanked a loose ball away and put it back up and in to stake the Wolves to a 28-26 lead and the home team would never trail again after that.

Downes drilled the bottom out of the net on a three-ball right before halftime to make it 32-27, then slipped a free throw through the net with less than a second left in the third to keep CHS up 44-38.

In between, Coupeville got gut-check baskets from White and Murdy, as the Wolves responded in style each time La Conner tried to pull even.

Still, no one was feeling safe as the fourth quarter began, until CHS dropped a couple of haymakers.

Valenzuela banked in a jumper to open the final frame, cracking the 100-point club for his varsity career, but it was a 10-2 run midway through the quarter which allowed Brad Sherman to finally exhale.

Six of the points in that tear came off of the fingers of White, channeling the spirit of dad Greg as he went hard to the hoop for repeat buckets.

Valenzuela and Downes set up their teammate with precision passes, while Anderson, still magnificently chafing the Braves, drew a charging foul which knocked the last bit of wind out of La Conner’s sails.

Logan Downes makes it rain. (Bailey Thule photo)

Coupeville spread its scoring out between six shooters, with Downes popping for a game-high 27 points and White rippling the nets for 15.

Valenzuela (7), Murdy (5), Anderson (4), and Coffman (2) also wrote their names in the scorebook, with Nick Guay and Jermiah Copeland earning floor time.

While the win, the chance to nab a top playoff seed, and the defensive effort were the big stories, two Wolves also made some personal history.

Valenzuela finished the night with 103 career points, becoming the fifth active Wolf boy to crack triple-digits, while Downes continues to throw down numbers rarely seen in the 106-year history of Coupeville basketball.

The junior gunner heads into the regular-season finale with 457 points this season, and 681 for his career.

Only Jeff Stone (644 in 1969-1970) and Jeff Rhubottom (459 in 1977-1978) have scored more in a single season.

Career-wise, Downes performance Tuesday pushes him past Wolf legends Jason McFadyen (654), Wade Ellsworth (659), Pat Bennett (659), Foster Faris (668), Virgil Roehl (674), and Gavin Keohane (677), and places him #22 all-time for a program launched in 1917.

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