Julia Myers yanks down another rebound. (John Fisken photos)
Wiley Hesselgrave nimbly keeps the ball away from a pair of defenders.
The path is wide open.
After a decade of no new banners being placed on the wall in the Coupeville High School gym — though, arguably, the Wolf tennis squads could have been honored in recent years for their triumphs — both of the CHS hoops squads have a legitimate shot to bust that streak.
The Wolf girls are, by far, the superior squad in the 1A Olympic League, benefiting from having a veteran-heavy team at a time when their three new rivals are painfully young.
But titles deserved and titles earned are two different things, and Klahowya, Chimacum and Port Townsend are not going to merely hand over the championship banner without a fight.
Coupeville has eight of its nine league games ahead in the new year and every night will be a test. Expect the Wolves to pass.
The Wolf boys face a slightly more uphill battle, but, without a dominant team like an ATM or King’s in the way, the league title is WIDE open.
Coupeville came within two missed free throws and a blown defensive coverage of upending Klahowya, and the Wolves will get multiple chances to right that wrong.
One feels like fate, the other a fighting shot.
Bring home some banners, baby.
Current 1A Olympic League standings:
GIRLS:
(League/overall)
Coupeville 1-0, 5-3
Chimacum 1-0, 2-3
Port Townsend 0-1, 0-6
Klahowya 0-1, 0-9
BOYS:
Chimacum 1-0, 1-5
Klahowya 1-0, 1-7
Coupeville 0-1, 2-5
Port Townsend 0-1, 0-5
Coupeville Sports 