Emma Green locks down on defense. (Julie Wheat photos)
Growth and commitment.
That was what Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball coaches Brooke Crowder and Kassie O’Neil wanted to see this season from their young players.
So, while the win/loss record might not have been flawless for two of three Wolf squads, much was accomplished over the past eight games.
Ending its season on the road Thursday in Granite Falls, land of the blind referee, Coupeville finished with a roar.
“Last night showcased strong effort across all three teams, with several players stepping up in key moments,” Crowder said.
How the finale played out:
Level 1:
Coupeville hung tough through the first 14 minutes, before a torrid third quarter performance from Granite lifted the host team to a 38-20 win.
The Wolves, who finished 1-7 on the season, trailed just 4-3 through one quarter of play, and 12-6 at the half.
All of Coupeville’s first half scoring came via the three-ball, with Kaleigha Millison and Aubrey Flowers both knocking down a trey from long range.
Granite came out on fire in the third, however, going off on a game-busting 17-6 tear to claim victory.
Flowers paced the Wolves with six points, earning some praise from her coach for a well-rounded game.
“Aubrey delivered one of her strongest performances of the season,” Brooke Crowder said. “She attacked the rim with confidence, took outside shots when the defense gave space, and anchored the paint defensively by holding position under the basket and disrupting plays.
“It was a complete game on both ends of the floor.”
Millison banked in five in support of Flowers, with Anna Powers (5) and Emma Green (2) rounding out the scoring.
Well almost, as Coupeville also picked up a bucket thanks to a Granite player accidentally scoring on her own basket.
Claire Lachnit, Laurel Crowder, Finley Helm, Zayne Roos, and Bella Sandlin also saw floor time for a plucky Wolf squad which never backed down from a challenge this season.
“Last night was a tough way for Team 1 to close the season,” Brooke Crowder said. “The game was emotional, and at times it felt like things simply weren’t going our way. Anyone who was there understands the frustration our players felt in that moment.
“But what matters most is how these girls competed.
“They played with heart, they kept fighting, and they left everything they had on the floor.
“I’m incredibly proud of this group not just for how they played, but for who they are as teammates and competitors.”
Bella Sandlin shreds the defense.
Level 2:
A bucket here, a bucket there, and CMS wins.
In the end, however, Granite held on for a razor-thin 21-18 win, dropping the Wolves to 1-7 for the campaign.
The game was a tight one, with the Tigers up 6-2 after one, 9-5 at the half, then 13-11 through three quarters, before clamping down on defense late to ice things.
Ava Alford pumped in a season-high seven points for Coupeville, with Juniper Dotson and Annabelle Cundiff each knocking down four, while Addison Jacobson (2) and Halle Black (1) rounded out the attack.
Daisy Leedy-Bonifas, Ruby Folkestad, and Reagan Green all played strongly on the defensive end of the floor for the Wolves.
“Ava recorded her highest scoring game of the season by consistently putting herself in the right spots,” Brooke Crowder said. “Battling for rebounds, winning loose balls under the basket, creating steals, and pushing the ball up the floor in transition.”
And she wasn’t the only Wolf to shine in the finale.
“Halle demonstrated excellent court awareness, finding teammates in scoring positions and executing effectively on baseline out-of-bounds plays,” Crowder said.
“Juniper brought relentless energy throughout the game, playing aggressive defense and running the floor hard from start to finish without letting up.
“Annabelle also made a strong impact with her energy and defensive effort, helping keep the team competitive while showing great vision and composure moving the ball and finding teammates in transition.”
Millie Somes celebrates the moment.
Team 3:
Coupeville’s buzz saw of a team sliced ‘n diced another opponent, with the Wolves winning 17-14 to claim their third-straight win.
They didn’t always get a chance to play as a unit when other schools came up short on players, but when they did, they clicked, finishing 4-1.
Squaring off with Granite Falls, the Wolves bolted to a 9-4 lead at the first break, before slightly stretching the advantage out to 13-6 by the half.
While Coupeville only scored four points in the second half, with buckets from Nikolette Dunham and Millie Somes, its defense was on point, holding the Tigers scoreless in the third frame.
Abby Hunt finished with a team-best six points, with Dunham (4), Ellie Callahan (2), Arianna Vinson (2) Somes (2), and Danielle Halsing (1) keeping the stat keeper busy.
Leah Hernandez, Amira Anunciado, and Daisy Leedy-Bonifas filled out the rotation for a squad which ended things on a huge high note.
“Abby set the tone with hustle and persistence, maintaining constant pressure on the court,” Brooke Crowder said.
“Defensively, Ellie and Arianna worked effectively together in help defense, shutting down attempts around the basket and protecting the paint. Amira added another strong performance with tough rebounding, powerful runs up the court, and confident ball movement that helped keep the offense flowing.
“Across all three teams, the effort, hustle, and teamwork on display reflected the growth and determination of the program.”
Final season scoring stats:
Laurel Crowder – 35
Daisy Leedy-Bonifas – 30
Halle Black – 28
Annabelle Cundiff – 27
Kaleigha Millison – 23
Emma Green – 22
Juniper Dotson – 21
Anna Powers – 21
Abby Hunt – 17
Cami Van Dyke – 14
Aubrey Flowers – 13
Finley Helm – 13
Nikolette Dunham – 12
Ava Alford – 11
Zayne Roos – 10
Addison Jacobson – 9
Ellie Callahan – 8
Danielle Halsing – 7
Bella Sandlin – 6
Millie Somes – 6
Claire Lachnit – 5
Sophia Burley – 4
Ruby Folkestad – 4
Reagan Green – 4
Emily Rains – 4
Arianna Vinson – 3
Amira Anunciado – 1
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