Morgan Pease, seen here corralling a ball in an earlier season game, was Coupeville’s top 7th grade rebounder. (John Fisken photos)
Wolf 8th graders (l to r) Emma Mathusek, Scout Smith and Maya Toomey-Stout are all expected to make the leap to high school hoops next winter.
They closed strongly.
Bringing their season to an end a game earlier than expected Monday, the Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball squads came within an errant pass or two of winning two of three on the road in Sequim.
Both of the Wolf varsity teams fell, while the 8th grade JV came away victorious.
Coupeville, which was scheduled to play 10 games this season, will only get nine in the books.
Port Townsend postponed a trip to Whidbey Mar. 10 because a power outage at Blue Heron Middle School cancelled classes that day.
While CMS coaches tried to work out a replacement date, BHMS administrators refused to reschedule, leaving the Wolf girls with one less game than expected.
In their final outing, the 8th grade JV was impeccable, strolling to a 29-26 win in a game limited to three quarters by the call of the ferry.
Cassidy Moody rained down 12 points — eight in the second quarter — while Megan Thorn tickled the twines for all eight of her points in the third quarter.
Tia Wurzrainer banked home five and Seraina Weatherford notched four to round out the scoring sheet.
The 8th grade varsity almost made it two-for-two, but a late rally fell just short and the Wolves succumbed 29-25.
Trailing by five with 1:30 to play, Coupeville pulled to within a single point, only to have two errant passes seal its fate at the very end.
“It was nearly a perfect ending,” said CMS 8th grade coach Bob Martin. “It was an exciting game to end the season.
“I’m excited to see that we have a lot of eighth graders moving up to high school next season!,” he added. “I’m very proud of them and am thankful for the opportunity to have coached them.
“Their work ethic, teamwork, and lack of individualism are admirable. I look forward to seeing their banners on the wall in the future.”
Noted defensive ball-hawk Avalon Renninger capped her middle school hoops career with a team-high 11, while Scout Smith (7), Hannah Davidson (6) and Emma Mathusek (1) chipped in to the scoring effort.
The CMS 7th graders, who played most of the season with a super-small roster, went out just as scrappy as ever.
Though they fell 46-13 to a very-deep Sequim team, the Wolves — who played the end of the game with just four players after Morgan Pease and Genna Wright fouled out — were still rumbling until the final buzzer.
“Final game was a good fight. We battled for the whole game,” 7th grade coach Ryan King said.
Chelsea Prescott capped the season with five points, giving her 97 in 8.5 games (11.4 ppg), best by any Wolf varsity player, 7th or 8th grade.
Pease dropped in four, Wright popped for three and Mollie Bailey sank a free throw.
“I am very proud of these girls for what they accomplished this season,” King said. “From beginning of the season to the end, they improved so much and it was a lot of fun to watch and a lot of fun to coach them.
“They fought in every game and really showed everyone that Coupeville is ready for any challenge in front of them,” he added. “I enjoyed being their coach this year.”
Final 7th/8th grade varsity scoring stats:
Chelsea Prescott 97
Avalon Renninger 60
Scout Smith 59
Hannah Davidson 55
Genna Wright 32
Morgan Pease 29
Maya Toomey-Stout 24
Mollie Bailey 23
Emma Mathusek 21
Cassidy Moody 14
Tia Wurzrainer 6
Brooke Ausman 2
Luci Coleburn 2
Megan Thorn 2
Seraina Weatherford 2
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