Tiffany Briscoe (left) and Mia Littlejohn prepare their stomachs for the glory that is a 26-inch pizza. (Amy King photos)
Lauren Grove fears no epic pile of melted cheese and meat, devouring the pizza in much the same manner she chews up opposing guards on the floor.
Day two was about survival.
Coupeville High School is the smallest 1A school in the state, and eight of the 11 Wolves currently taking part in a girls’ basketball camp at Ocean Shores are underclassmen, to boot.
So when CHS drew games against 2B power Adna and a pair of large 3A schools (Lincoln, Foss) Tuesday, with the games stretched between 9 AM and 8 PM, the odds were long.
But, while the Wolves went 0-3 on the day (after going 1-1 on Monday), not only did they survive, but they showed composure under fire and the promise of great things to come.
“Despite the losses, and yes, I hate to lose, we are growing up,” said Coupeville coach David King. “Each player has stepped out of their comfort zone and have made steps to improve.”
The day got off to a tough start, with the Wolves drawing the camp’s best team, a squad which has largely played together since its players were 11.
“From all of the teams at camp and what we have seen, they (Adna) are the best team here,” King said. “They have height, outside shooting and a seasoned team.”
Coupeville tried to counter Adna’s height advantage with a 2-3 zone, but Adna stepped up and drilled its outside shots to blunt the tactic.
“We moved well defensively; did leave some shooters open on the perimeter and like good players do, they knocked them down,” King said.
While they didn’t catch back up in the second half, the younger Wolves (five of 11 girls are freshmen) put up a strong effort.
“As a coach, that’s all we want from the players,” King said. “Amy (King) and I knew the returning players and their mental toughness in a game when it’s your team on the wrong end of a blowout.
“What we didn’t know, but suspected with the freshman, is they have that same drive to compete and never quit no matter the score.”
Game two wasn’t any easier, as Lincoln was just as tall and not afraid to bang on the undersized Wolves.
Trailing early, Coupeville switched up its defense at the suggestion of the players (“Either Kailey (Kellner) or Mia (Littlejohn) … right now I can’t remember who suggested it,” said a tired King) and it paid immediate dividends.
“We switched it up and it picked up our game on both ends of the court.”
The Wolves reclaimed the lead for a bit, and pushed Lincoln hard until the final buzzer.
“The girls understood that if each and every player comes ready to play that we give ourselves a chance at a win,” King said. “Players playing aggressive, they were communicating, moving the ball offensively and showing how we play Coupeville basketball.
“I could talk about each player and see the growth in each one of them just in this game,” he added. “We are pushing these players and asking them to expand their games in ways they didn’t think they could.
“Some give us looks like, you want me to do what? Or we get the look of, yeah, there is no way I can do that. But let me tell you, they can and they are!”
Having played a large-school team step-for-step (“We told them in our post-game talk this game was a turning point for us”), King can see the confidence soaring in his young guns, who are playing at the camp minus reigning Olympic League MVP Makana Stone and fellow senior McKenzie Bailey.
After a break to hit local stores and the beach, Coupeville closed day two with a “barn-burner” against Foss, falling just short late in the second half.
Not content to call it good there, the Wolves will play three more games Wednesday, with tip-off times of noon, 6 PM and 10 PM.
King will be on the bench, though he may need an IV drip filled with coffee at some point.
“Is it really only day three?,” he said with a chuckle, then went back to happily sketching out new plays.
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