Diesel Eck lets a free throw fly. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Learn, live, move on to the next challenge.
Facing off with one of the better hoops’ programs in the Cascade League Tuesday, the Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams spent much of the afternoon playing catch-up.
And while the Wolves couldn’t beat visiting Northshore Christian Academy, they did find some strong moments to build upon.
How the day played out:
Level 1:
NSC dominated play in the early going, before Coupeville showed improvement once the running clock kicked in during a 41-9 loss.
The visitors spent much of the first half slashing inside for easy buckets, building a 30-0 lead to start things.
Coupeville finally got on the board when Nick Laska elevated and drained a three-ball on the final scoring play of the half.
Immediately afterward, teammate Kamden Ratcliff pulled off the defensive play of the game, winning a battle on the floor for a ball.
In doing so, he took the NSC player to the floor, hard, went up and over him while still holding onto the ball, and showcased some major grit which bodes well for the future.
While the clock madly ticked away after the break, Coupeville held its own in the third quarter, with Carson Grove muscling his way in for back-to-back buckets and Laska turning an offensive rebound into a basket.
For the game, Laska finished with five points, while Grove popped for four.
Calvin Kappes, Ratcliff, Chayse Van Velkinburgh, Khanor Jump, Jackson Sollars, Nathan Niewald, and Liam Lawson also saw action for Alex Evans’ crew.
Lincoln Wagner elevates on defense.
Level 2:
The sequel played out a lot like the first game, with Coupeville falling behind big early, showing some solid fight in the latter stages, and losing 40-12.
Khanor Jump was the lone Wolf to score through the first three quarters, racking up eight points on a pair of buckets where he rolled hard to the hoop, and a handful of free throws.
He also rejected an NSC shot, while Treyshawn Stewart picked up a block of his own, but in a much louder way.
Losing control of the ball, he chased down the would-be thief, went airborne, and spiked the kid’s shot attempt off the back wall.
It was a thing of raw beauty, danger and anger mixed together, and proof Stewart has as much promise as any player currently wearing a CMS uniform.
Diesel Eck slipped a free throw through the net early in the fourth quarter to break Jump’s streak of scoring all of Coupeville’s points, before Stewart resurfaced.
Launching a three-ball from deep, he made the net sing a sweet song, his trey hitting pay dirt and causing the Wolf fans to scream loudly.
Though, to be honest, the middle school girls in attendance were plenty loud all game long, upholding a proud tradition of CMS hoops fans peeling the paint off the gym walls with their vocal renditions.
In addition to the three Wolves who scored, Jayden Little, River Simpson, Trent Thule, Jonah Weyl, Aiden Wheat, Johnathan Jacobsen, Xander Beaman, Maverick Walling, Lincoln Wagner, Deacon Frost, Jacob Lujan, and Mario Martinez also saw floor time.
Wolf ace Aiden Wheat keeps a watchful eye on the pesky paparazzi.
Level 3:
NSC is the only school in the league to field just two teams, and not three, preventing Wolf fans from sitting on the rock-hard CMS bleachers for another hour.
Call it a win for our fannies.
Up next:
Coupeville hosts Sultan Thursday, with tipoff at 3:15 PM.
Level 3 plays first, followed by Level 2, with Level 1 capping things.
After that, the Wolves travel to South Whidbey Dec. 4, host that same foe Dec. 11, then travel to Lakewood Dec. 13 for the finale.
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Coupeville Sports 