Coupeville Sports

Makana Stone, droppin’ buckets and takin’ names. (Photo property Leicester Riders)

It was a quick bounce-back.

Less than 24 hours after taking a loss in the WBBL Cup, Coupeville’s Makana Stone and her pro hoops team got itself back into the win column.

Leading from start to finish, the Leicester Riders whacked the Durham Palatinates 78-63 Sunday, raising their record to 6-2 in Women’s British Basketball League regular season action.

Counting three wins in four games during WBBL Cup play, Stone and Co. are 9-3 on the season.

The former Wolf, who has been recovering from an injury, came off the bench to play nine minutes Sunday, scoring three points and hauling in five rebounds.

Stone’s points came courtesy of a long three-ball, while her rebounds were second-best on the day for a Riders player.

Leicester jumped out in front 21-15 after one quarter of play, then stretched its lead to 46-28 by the half, and 56-43 heading into the final frame.

Oceana Hamilton and Anna Lappenkuper paced the Riders with 21 and 17 points, respectively.

Playing her first season of pro ball, Stone has collected 64 points, 57 rebounds, 13 assists, and seven steals.

Leicester returns to action next Saturday, Dec. 11, when it faces off with Manchester.

Read Full Post »

Coupeville’s Makana Stone is 6-2 as a pro basketball player, 2-0 as a starter. (Photo property Leicester Riders) 

It was the right decision.

The Leicester Riders inserted Coupeville grad Makana Stone into the starting lineup two games ago, and the team hasn’t lost since.

The latest victory was of the blowout variety, as Leicester overcame a slow start Saturday to annihilate the Caledonia Pride 83-54.

With the win, the Riders improve to 3-2 and move into sole possession of fifth-place in the 13-team Women’s British Basketball League.

Leicester is 6-2 overall, counting a 3-0 run in the WBBL Cup to open the season.

Stone had a somewhat-quiet afternoon, tossing in four points, snagging three rebounds, and making off with a steal.

But the newest addition to the team didn’t need to be front and center, as four of her teammates went off for double-digits scoring.

Oceana Hamilton led the way with 18 points, while Louise Rouse (17), Hannah Robb (16), and Anna Lappenkuper (15) all had a hot shooting touch.

Caledonia actually jumped out to a 23-17 lead after one quarter, but then Leicester dropped the hammer, repeatedly.

The Riders used 26-6 and 22-6 runs in the second and third frame, respectively, to put the game on ice.

Through her first eight games as a professional hoops player, Stone has tallied 55 points, 51 rebounds, 11 assists, and six steals.

Leicester returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 6 when it faces off with the Oaklands Wolves, who sit at 1-3 in WBBL regular-season play.

Read Full Post »

Makana Stone went for 10 points and six rebounds in her first start as a pro. (Photo property Leicester Riders)

Undefeated as a starter.

After coming off the bench in her first six games as a professional basketball player, Coupeville grad Makana Stone made the jump to the front five Saturday in England.

And it paid off, as the former Wolf scored six of her 10 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Leicester Riders complete a stunning comeback to bounce the Newcastle Eagles 59-51.

The win lifts Stone and Co. to 2-2 in regular-season play in the Women’s British Basketball League, 5-2 overall, counting three wins in the WBBL Cup.

It wasn’t a cakewalk for Leicester, however, as the Riders came out cold and found themselves down 13-5 at the first break.

It wasn’t much better in the second quarter, either, as Newcastle continued to clamp down on defense, carrying a 28-16 advantage to the halftime break.

But something changed for Leicester in the second half, as it shaved away much of the deficit with an 18-10 run in the third, before hammering the Eagles to a 25-13 tune in the final frame.

Stone hit a layup and a pair of twine-tickling jumpers down the stretch, with her final bucket staking the Riders to a 52-47 lead they wouldn’t give up.

Leicester hit seven of eight free throws after their American assassin connected, not allowing Newcastle to creep back into the game.

Stone snatched six rebounds and made off with a steal to go with her 10 points, while teammate Hannah Robb scorched the nets for a game-high 23 points.

Along with getting the start, Coupeville’s progeny also played almost a full 39 minutes in a 40-minute contest, her longest run as a pro.

On the season, Stone has rung up 51 points, 48 rebounds, 11 assists, and four steals.

Leicester returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 30, when it clashes with the Caledonia Pride.

Read Full Post »

Coupeville grad Makana Stone knocked down 13 points Sunday, her best showing as a pro. (Photo property Leicester Riders)

It was a barn-burner, albeit one with a slightly sad ending.

The Leicester Riders, sparked by the play of Coupeville’s Makana Stone, went basket for basket with the Sheffield Hatters Sunday in England, before falling 77-74.

The loss drops the Riders to 1-2 in Women’s British Basketball League regular-season play, while Sheffield rises to 3-0 and is tied with the London Lions atop the 13-team conference.

Leicester is 4-2 overall during Stone’s inaugural season of professional hoops, having opened the season with three-straight wins in WBBL Cup play.

Sunday’s bout was an intense one, with Sheffield up by three at the first break, Leicester back in front by three at the half, then Sheffield clinging to a one-point advantage headed to the final frame.

Neither team led by more than a single possession in the second half, and Stone was dynamic down the stretch for Leicester.

Dropping in eight of her professional-best 13 points in the fourth quarter, the former Wolf hit her buckets in the biggest moments.

Stone staked Leicester to a 66-65 lead with 4:40 to go, then twice pulled the Riders within a point in the final minute of play.

Her driving layup with just 14 ticks on the clock got Leicester to within 75-74, but Sheffield held strong, netting a pair of free throws to set the final margin at three.

When she wasn’t stoppin’ and poppin’, Stone also made her presence felt in other ways, adding a rebound, three assists, and a steal to her line on the stat sheet.

Riders teammate Chelsea Jennings led all scorers with 20 points, while Sheffield benefited from the one-two combo of Helen Naylor and Ariona Gill, who went for 19 and 18, respectively.

Through her first six professional games, Stone has amassed 41 points, 42 rebounds, 11 assists, and three steals.

Leicester returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 23, when it squares off with Newcastle, which is 0-3 in regular-season play.

Read Full Post »