Coupeville Sports

   Allen Black, former CHS softball star Mandi Murdy and their adorable daughter, who is going to be the family’s biggest star.

If you were a Coupeville High School boys’ basketball fan in 2002-2003, there was plenty to see.

Wolf senior Brad Sherman was closing out his stellar career, while freshman Mike Bagby was just beginning his. Toss in Brian Fakkema and Casey Clark, and CHS had four strong offensive weapons.

And yet, one wonders what could have been with a roster tweak or two.

Because, while that year’s varsity finished 5-15 a year after Coupeville had won a league title, the Wolf JV stormed to a 16-3 record behind one of the most explosive seasons put together at any level by a CHS hoops star.

Having recently obtained the JV score-book from that season, it’s a revelation.

Allen Black was a junior, and almost didn’t play in 2002, until the coach talked him into turning out.

Once on the court, he put on a show, breaking 20 points nine times, with a high of 32 against Concrete — not the last time he’d scar that team.

Black joined Bagby on the varsity squad the next year, where the duo both claimed All-Conference honors.

During the 2003-2004 season, Black went off for 39 in a rematch against Concrete, believed to be the most by a Wolf since Jeff Stone set the school record with 48 in the late ’60s.

Unfortunately, the varsity book for his senior year is one of two that have gone missing from Randy King’s 20-year run as CHS coach (1991-2011).

But looking at the JV book, one wonders, what would Black have done if he made his varsity debut BEFORE his senior season?

If I had a time machine, I’d love to go back and find out how a guy torches the nets for 347 points in 19 games and never gets the call-up.

When I talked to Black recently, he laughed it off, forever remaining Mr. Easy Rider.

“Can’t complain too much, I had a blast,” he said. “I was on the C-Team freshman year and that was probably the funnest year.

“But glad I showed up and kept playing.”

During his JV year to remember, Black, who was a team captain, opened the season with 21 in a 59-46 win over Granite Falls, and was the only player on his squad to score in all 19 games.

He topped double digits in 17 of 19 games, and while teammates Eddie Fasolo (24) and JJ Marti (20) each topped 20 once, Black went on a late season tear that is remarkable.

Facing off with league foes, he topped 21 or more points eight times in the final nine games — all wins for Coupeville.

Black started off with 21 against Concrete, then tossed down games of 24, 25, 27, 32, 23, 25, 14 and 27.

Frankly, he was lightning in a bottle all year, six times scoring in double digits in just a single quarter, with a high of 19 in the first quarter the night he scored 32.

He had a tendency to hurt teams right off the opening tip, throwing down nearly a third of his points (114) in the first quarters of his games.

So, in the end, what’s this all mean?

Well, that Allen Black was a heck of a baller at all levels, that he should have gotten the call to the big leagues sooner, and that we should take a moment to remember how good that 2002-2003 JV squad was.

There’s no banner hanging in the gym for them, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t kick some serious fanny. So, here’s a shout-out to them (and their high-scoring captain).

The complete scoring totals for the 2002-2003 JV squad:

Allen Black 347
JJ Marti 163
Eric Taylor 163
Blake Day 133
Eddie Fasolo 130
Bryan Sherman 72
Andrew Mouw 46
Sean O’Neill 39
Brad Rogers 37
Mike Duke 24
Andre Cooper 10
Danny Graham 7
Jack Armstrong 6

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