Alex Murdy is a dynamo on both ends of the floor. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Coming off the program’s best campaign in decades, Coupeville High School boys’ basketball wants to keep the good times rolling.
Last season the Wolves, led by a stellar group of seniors, won their first 16 games, captured league and bi-district titles, and advanced to the state tourney.
That had been a long time coming, with the program’s last league title in 2002, when current head coach Brad Sherman was still nailing three-balls as a player.
It had been even longer since the Wolf boys went to state (1988) or won a district crown (1970), but everything clicked during a season in which a different player seemingly carried the team each night.
Gone are those seniors — Logan Martin, Hawthorne Wolfe, Caleb Meyer, Grady Rickner, Xavier Murdy, and Miles Davidson — but the cupboard isn’t bare for Sherman as he enters his sixth season in the lead chair.
Junior Logan Downes was the team’s #3 scorer a year ago, while senior Alex Murdy is a defensive demon who can also torch the net, finishing #4 in buckets on last year’s stacked roster.
They’re joined by five other players with previous varsity experience — seniors Jonathan Valenzuela and Dominic Coffman, and juniors Cole White, Nick Guay, and Zane Oldenstadt.
All five offer big positives.
“Logan is really developing as a complete guard with the ability to score inside and out,” Sherman said. “Had some big games last season and played really well over the summer. He’s going to be tough.
“Alex is a force on defense. He gave teams a hard time at the top of our press and pressuring the ball last year,” Sherman added.
“Offensively he handles the ball well and is really strong around the rim – looking for a big senior year from him.”
Cole White, whose dad Greg joins Hunter Smith and Randy Bottorff on the coaching staff, is a co-captain with Downes.
“Cole is just a smart player who does a nice job finding the right spots on offense, and he’s a really solid defender for us,” Sherman said.
“He was able to step in and give us big minutes last year and has looked really good stepping into a bigger role over the summer and these first two weeks.”
Cole White sets up the play.
Valenzuela and Coffman were major contributors this fall for a CHS football team which won a league title and advanced to state, and both are expected to bring that same electricity to the floor.
“Jon had a great first couple of weeks and is executing a lot of the little things we’ve been emphasizing really well,” Sherman said. “We love the way he’s crashing the boards and getting us second effort shots.
“Dom is a football player on the basketball court – and I mean that in the best way possible. He’s physical, he flies around, and brings a great energy.”
Oldenstadt and Guay were swing players last season, and the duo make the jump to full-time varsity guys this time around.
Joining them will be a trio of JV vets — juniors Ryan Blouin, William Davidson, and Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim — as well as one newcomer in senior Jermiah Copeland.
Freshman Chase Anderson and sophomores Hunter and Hurlee Bronec are also in the mix to swing between JV and varsity, depending on how things play out.
It’s a group Sherman looks forward to working with.
“Zane, Nick, and Will are doing a nice job battling in the paint playing our four and five spots right now,” Sherman said. “We are looking for them to be physical and win the rebounding battle every night, play strong around the rim, and get after it on defense.
“Ryan worked hard this off-season and gives us another shooting threat on the outside, while Q makes the jump up to varsity because of his defensive presence.
“We are really excited to have Jermiah join us. He’s fitting in well with the team and the system.”
Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim rumbles in the paint.
While players may have changed, team goals have not.
“We want to work really hard with a focus on getting better a day at a time,” Sherman said. “Hit our stride and be playing strong fundamental basketball by the time we hit our league schedule in January.
“Obviously we hope to be right in the mix for a league and district title and be one of those final teams moving on to the state tournament at the end of the season.
“But there’s a lot of work to do between now and then for any team with those goals.”
Coupeville prides itself on its defense, harassing rival ballhandlers and hitting the boards with intensity. That’s a big key going forward.
“Defensively we need to be tough, especially in our ability to pressure the ball, and I certainly think we have that ability,” Sherman said.
“I foresee that being something we do really well,” he added. “The guys returning in our backcourt are going to be a strong group – we could be really tough up top and at our wings, especially in our ability to attack the rim.”
As the new team meshes, the Wolves will focus on winning each small battle, setting them up to triumph in the big wars as well.
“We just want to keep improving on the things we know we need to do well to be successful,” Sherman said.
“Win the rebounding battle every night, execute our defensive system with high energy, get ball reversals and paint touches on offense, communicate on the court, take care of the basketball.
“Excellence is a process, and it requires a mindset of getting better one day at a time. That’s where our focus has to be.”
After some down seasons, the Coupeville gym was crammed with fans last year, a testament to the team’s success, and how the Wolves got there.
“The support from our community was overwhelming last season,” Sherman said. “We hope to keep that same energy in the gym year in and year out through the energy we play with.”
Logan Downes denies you.
Building the culture of the program with an emphasis on “pillars” — grit, gratitude, humility, trust, and excellence — the Wolves look at every foe as a challenge.
Be careful not to overlook any rival teams, but also don’t fear the name on the front of the jersey.
“The team we are playing on any given night isn’t going to change our mindset,” Sherman said. “We need to be prepared to show up and give our best every night regardless of the opponent.
“We just need to be ready every night, work hard, and win our preparation. If we can do that, hopefully we are in there battling for that league title again this year.”
It’s a team with great promise, ready to write the next chapter in a tale of success.
“We love this group of guys and are excited to see them continue to grow together through the season and keep building that chemistry on the floor,” Sherman said.
“It doesn’t happen overnight – but we had a really good summer through camp, league, and tournament play, and we’ve pushed hard these first two weeks of practice.
“Really looking forward to the season!”
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