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Posts Tagged ‘Logan Downes’

Blouin boldly bombs Braves

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on February 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Ryan Blouin, launcher of bombs and destroyer of worlds. (Mia Farris photo)

Ryan Blouin flat out murdered some folks Tuesday night.

Knocking down seven three-balls, the Coupeville High School senior sparked the Wolf varsity boys’ basketball squad to a 65-54 win at La Conner.

The victory, coming in the regular season finale for CHS, lifts the Wolves to 7-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 15-5 overall.

It also garners Coupeville sweet revenge for a one-point loss to the Braves earlier this season, clinches at least a share of the league title for Brad Sherman’s squad, and keeps them alive for a top seed to the 2B District 1/2 tourney.

La Conner (6-1, 13-6) squares off with Friday Harbor (3-4, 8-10) this Friday, Feb. 9 in the last league game on the schedule.

If the Braves win, they share the league crown with Coupeville, but get the #1 seed to districts based on a pre-season tiebreaker draw by league athletic directors.

But if Friday Harbor stands tall and KO’s La Conner, the Wolves are solo NWL champs and get the best playoff draw.

The #1 seed from District 1 hosts the #2 team from District 2 (Northwest Christian of Lacey) Feb. 12, while the #2 seed goes on the road to play top-seeded Auburn Adventist Academy.

Win or lose, both teams will be at CHS Feb. 14 (and maybe Feb. 17), as Coupeville hosts the remainder of the double-elimination tourney, where two teams will qualify for state.

You can see the bracket here:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4209

Tuesday’s tilt on the mainland was a chance for the Wolves to showcase their depth, with three players hitting double digit scoring and six sharing the offensive load.

Coupeville’s seniors, on a mission from the hoops gods. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

But while Coupeville basked in balance, it’s Ryan Blouin, the pride of Kapaw’s Iskreme, younger brother of noted gunner Alita “The Assassin” Blouin, who will haunt La Conner for decades.

When Braves fans want to scare their young children in the future, they’ll tell them about the time he came to town, raining down hot death from above.

Did he miss? Maybe a couple of times, but it didn’t feel that way, as Blouin popped a trio of three-balls through the net in the first quarter, sparking CHS to a 15-9 lead.

The game was actually scoreless for three-minutes-plus, before the teams combined to sink five straight treys in an explosion of sight and sound.

Blouin netted two of those shots from behind the arc, and Coupeville trailed 9-6 for the briefest of moments.

A short jumper from Chase Anderson, off a pass from Cole White, cut the deficit to one, before the terror from Cow Town put the Wolves ahead for good.

Blouin’s three-ball had barely popped out of the bottom of the net before running mate Logan Downes cranked his own epic shot through the twines.

Coupeville kept pushing, mixing in a lot of old-fashioned, but very effective, two-point shots as it surged to a 27-12 lead heading into halftime.

La Conner’s marksmen hit a collective dry spell, and the Wolves responded, cleaning the boards with a cold fury and getting out and running whenever possible.

Defense fueled the run, from Hunter Bronec gettin’ brawny with a nasty rejection of a wayward Braves shot, to Anderson outleaping his rivals to snare caroms.

The hosts rediscovered their shooting touch after halftime.

Or, just gave the ball to Ivory Damien and let him go to work, as the silky smooth La Conner senior ripped off 34 of his game-high 37 points after the break.

Most of his shots were straight-up line drives, which barely rippled the net as they hit paydirt.

But while Damien was smokin’ hot, Coupeville never crumpled, and never gave up the lead as it did in the earlier matchup.

Each time La Conner threatened to make a run, the Wolves responded, dropping counter punches from every angle.

Blouin knifed the Braves with another trio of three-balls in the third quarter, while Downes nailed a sweet pullup jumper set up by Nick Guay ripping a rebound loose while being pummeled by La Conner players.

Up 41-32 heading into the fourth, Coupeville never let their rivals get closer than six points.

Still hobbled by a leg injury, Downes chose his moments, and slammed the door shut with a 10-point burst in the final frame.

Equally big time was White, who scored all six of his points in the game’s final four minutes, each one of his three shots a giant “Be quiet!” to La Conner fans.

“A bucket for me, a knee to the nads for you, my good sir.” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Not even the hometown scoreboard operator trying to give the Braves three points for two free throws — after a ref got huffy about … something … and T’d up the Wolves — could slow Coupeville’s roll.

Win in hand, Cow Town’s finest headed back to the bus with a skip to their step and their eyes firmly focused on the next stage.

Five days to get ready and find out where they’ll open the playoffs, five days to prepare for punching their ticket to state for the second time in three seasons after a three-decade absence.

Enjoy the moment but finish the job.

For now, the Wolves will look at the scorebook and enjoy the view, with Blouin leading the way with a career-high 22 points.

Downes chipped in with 17, Anderson knocked down another 13, White popped for six, and the Battlin’ Bronec Brothers added seven, with Hurlee netting five and Hunter two.

And, because we can’t let a stats moment slip by, a brief shoutout to Downes, who has now rattled the rims for 452 points this season, even after essentially sitting out the Chief Leschi game.

That is the fourth-best single-season performance by a Wolf boy, and comes on the heels of last season, when he hit #2 by peppering the net for 544 points.

And Blouin?

His 22 points Tuesday gives him 177 for his career, leaving him just a bucket away from cracking the top 150 Wolf scorers all-time.

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A scorer? Yes! A winner? Absolutely!!

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on January 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Logan Downes, moments before leading his team to the 50th win of his high school career. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

He’s just here for the win.

Logan Downes stayed businesslike Tuesday, even as everyone made a fuss over him.

The Coupeville High School senior remained focused, leading his squad to a shellacking of visiting Concrete, running his record as a four-year varsity player to an impressive 50-19.

Once again, he led the Wolves in scoring, throwing down 15 in limited minutes during the 60-33 Northwest 2B/1B League victory, but also spent a great deal of time doing the small, but important things.

Shutting down his man on defense.

Snatching rebounds and kicking long passes to Chase Anderson flying down the court.

Talking his teammates up while sitting next to the coaches.

Wolf PA announcer Christi Messner hails the scoring champ.

No CHS male athlete has ever scored as many points in their prep career as Downes.

But that’s just part of his game.

We are all witnesses to the story arc of a young man who wants the W more than anything else.

Downes and CHS coach Brad Sherman, who have been together for every one of the 1,165 points. Spoiler: they’re not done.

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Best of times, worst of times

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

New CHS scoring king Logan Downes is congratulated by one of the men he passed Saturday, Mike Bagby. (Jon Roberts photo)

It was a mixed bag, man.

Saturday’s matchup with visiting Neah Bay was a Jekyll and Hyde sort of experience for the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball squad, with one huge high and way too many lows.

Wolf senior Logan Downes delivered the spotlight moment, drilling a second-quarter three-ball to become the #1 scorer in the 107-year history of CHS boys’ hoops.

But at virtually every other moment, Coupeville, fresh off a huge league win the night before, played its worst game of the season.

Falling 64-41 to the Red Devils, the Wolves looked out of sorts on offense, on defense, and even when taking water breaks.

Not even a fire drill midway through the fourth quarter — with a possibly burnt concession stand hamburger sending the crowd two steps out the front door before everyone got to turn right back around — was a complete success.

The good news is the loss was a non-conference one.

And the upcoming schedule breaks much more in the favor of the Wolves, with Concrete (6-9) and South Whidbey (2-12) coming to Coupeville next Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Oh, and the gym didn’t burn down. There’s that, too.

Neah Bay, ranked #5 in 1B by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association RPI, arrived in Cow Town looking for a sixth-straight win, and the Red Devils led from start to finish.

Downes, who entered play needing 11 points to pass Jeff Stone and Mike Bagby for the career scoring title, dropped a pair of three-balls through the net in the opening quarter.

But that was it for offense from the Wolves, who found themselves on the wrong end of a 14-6 score at the first break.

Things didn’t get much better from there, as the visitors stretched the lead out to double digits early in the second quarter, never allowing CHS to get the margin down under 10 the rest of the night.

A third trey from Downes midway through the second quarter gave him the record with 1,138 points, but Coupeville went to the locker room looking for answers and trailing 33-18.

The new scoring king will be honored in a pre-game ceremony at Tuesday’s clash with Concrete.

The Wolves finally seemed to flip a switch, for a moment, opening the third on a 7-2 run, only to have Neah Bay answer with a 10-5 surge of its own.

Things got sloppy in the fourth, with Coupeville throwing bad passes, being outrebounded at a terrifying rate, and being unable to keep any rallies alive.

A late 13-2 run by the Red Devils made the final score seem more lopsided than it really was, but it was never close, either.

Mikey Robinett prepares to get hydrated with Gatorade. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The hometown crowd had one late roar left in its collective lungs for Mikey Robinett, who came off the bench to bank in the game’s final bucket, but that was a small salve.

Downes finished with a game-high 23, running his career total to 1,150, while Chase Anderson rattled the rim for seven points.

Cole White (4), Ryan Blouin (3), Nick Guay (2), and Robinett (2) rounded out the scorers.

Also seeing floor time were Zane Oldenstadt, Hurlee Bronec, Timothy Nitta, William Davidson, Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim, Hunter Bronec, and Aiden O’Neill.

One and all should expect an intense practice Monday afternoon.

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107 seasons, one shooter to rule them all

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Logan Downes, your new Coupeville High School boys’ basketball career scoring king. (Photo by CHS Yearbook Staff)

One man stands alone.

Coupeville High School boys’ basketball launched in 1917, and 107 seasons later Logan Downes has reached the mountain top.

The Wolf senior officially became the #1 scorer in program history Saturday, reaching the mark when he sank a three-ball midway through the second quarter against visiting Neah Bay.

It was 5:36 PM, Pacific Standard Time, and a record which had stood for 54 years finally fell.

Downes finished the game with 23 points, pushing his career total to 1,150.

That breaks a mark set in 1970 by Jeff Stone and tied in 2006 by Mike Bagby.

That duo both recorded 1,137 points during their time in a Wolf uniform, with Stone playing three seasons — 9th graders weren’t eligible for varsity games back then — and Bagby four.

Downes is now #4 overall in school history, chasing Coupeville female legends Brianne King (1,549), Novi Barron (1,270), and Makana Stone (1,158).

The third and final son of Angie and Ralph to play for CHS, Logan follows in the footsteps of big bros Hunter (89 points) and Sage (64).

The young gun opened his high school hoops career during a Covid-shortened freshman season, knocking down 52 points.

He followed up with 172 as a sophomore — playing a key role on a team which won league and district titles en route to the state tourney — before pumping in 554 as a junior.

“There’s more where that came from!” (Bailey Thule photo)

Downes has 372 and counting as a senior, averaging 24.8 a night for a Wolf team which sits at 11-4.

Coupeville has five games left on the regular season schedule, then a possible playoff run.

Downes coach, Brad Sherman, who is the #9 scorer in program history with 874 points, has had an up-close view of his gunner’s career arc.

“It’s been a joy to watch Logan grow as a player and person these past four years,” he said. “Really just proud of him, and how hard he’s worked to be the player he is.

“Logan is a competitor, through and through – you can see it in every aspect of his game.

“For him to reach this milestone is a testament to the hours he’s put in and his drive to be the best he can be to help his team succeed.

“I’ve never heard him mention the scoring record – but what I continually hear him talk about is how to win games. That’s who he is.”

Stone got to 1,137 by scoring 176 as a sophomore, 317 as a junior, and a school-record 644 as a senior.

He would go on to play college basketball before long, successful runs as a teacher, coach, and administrator with Oak Harbor High School.

Looking back at his own glory days, Stone offers congratulations to the two players who joined him at the pinnacle.

“Logan sounds like a solid player on a winning team, that’s what it’s all about!” he said.

“I don’t know about Mike, but I didn’t have a clue on records back when I played, I just wanted to win and do something that hadn’t been done before and that was go to state.

“The career scoring record is long overdue, quite frankly it should have been broken by Mike when he played.”

Stone, who knocked down jumpers in the days of really short shorts and only two points for a bucket even if you shot it from the parking lot, admits he envies the current generation a bit.

“It would have been fun though to play in an era that included dunking, the three-ball and not to mention four years! GO WOLVES!”

Bagby went 137-222-414-364, playing alongside Sherman in the early days of his career.

Part of a family which features numerous big-time scorers, from sister Ashley and brother Jason to dad Ron, who did his damage while growing up in Forks, he agrees with Stone about the importance of individual accomplishments fueling team success.

Coupeville is 49-19 with Downes in the lineup, something the “old school” Wolves appreciate.

“Congratulations to Logan,” Bagby said.

“Not only has he been a great scorer, it’s important to point out the Wolves won a lot of games in Logan’s time at Coupeville. Something he should be extremely proud of.

“Not to mention a state tourney appearance.

“I’m looking forward to watching how much he smashes that scoring title,” he added.

“And I’m sending good vibes to those Wolves as they head down the stretch pushing for another playoff run.”

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‘Canes jab, Wolves drop the haymaker

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chase Anderson flies in for another breakaway bucket. (Jackie Saia photos)

Let the hate flow through you, but channel that anger.

Finding the balance between the light and the dark sides of the basketball force Friday, the Coupeville High School varsity boys’ basketball players kept their composure under extreme stress and captured a statement win.

Holding off a rough-and-ready Mount Vernon Christian squad 54-51, the Wolves overcame questionable calls and frequent blows to assorted body parts, handing the Hurricanes their first conference loss of the season.

The win, a huge bounce back after a last-second loss to La Conner, lifts CHS to 4-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 11-3 overall.

It also keeps the Wolves right in the mix for a league title, as they chase the Braves (4-0, 11-5) — who they reunite with in La Conner Feb. 6 — and MVC (6-1, 6-10).

Friday’s win was a testament to team play, as Coupeville got something from everyone on the floor.

The ‘Canes made a point of trying to stifle Wolf senior Logan Downes, who entered the night needing 36 points to become the #1 scorer in CHS boys’ basketball history, clamping down on him at every turn.

Or just hitting him repeatedly around the head and shoulders, or anywhere their slap-happy fingers could reach.

Downes responded by finding other ways to set up his team for success, soaring for rebounds, firing floor-length passes to a galloping Chase Anderson, and taking offensive charges.

Teammates like Nick Guay and William Davidson stepped up with huge buckets, then, as the defense slipped a bit here and there, Downes twisted himself into a pretzel to knock down buckets to deflate the ‘Canes at crunch time.

The first quarter was a rock ’em, sock’ em extravaganza, knotted up at 9-9 after eight torrid minutes.

Cole White and Ryan Blouin sacrificed their tail bones, absorbing body blows and drawing offensive fouls on their rivals, while Hunter Bronec fought like a wild man down in the mosh pit that was the paint.

A three-ball off of White’s slender fingertips caressed the net to force the tie, then Downes finally got a sliver of room in which to operate in the second quarter.

He went off for nine points in the frame, with Blouin and White adding daggers, and CHS clung to a 22-21 lead at the half, after a hasty conference at the scorer’s table confirmed the score.

MVC pulled ahead for the final time at 28-26 early in the third quarter, before Coupeville made its move.

A 12-3 run to end the frame included a silky three-ball from Downes and back-to-back big plays from Coupeville’s often unsung role players.

Guay, taking off like a rocket, hauled in a long outlet pass, banking in the ball while being battered in living color, pulling off a three-point play the (very) hard way.

Then it was time for Mr. Twinkle Toes to dance the dance of his people, as Davidson, among the spriest of big men, twirled through the paint, lofting in a soft lil’ jumper to make it 38-31.

Brad Sherman draws up a top-secret play.

The final frame was a donnybrook, with Coupeville getting the lead up to nine, but no higher, while MVC kept making mini runs at tying things up.

Downes banked in nine more points in crunch time, but it was Anderson with the freeze-frame shot to the solar plexus.

Having been body-slammed off the floor, before having his foot ripped off his body at another moment, the slender sophomore was a walking, (always) talking full body bruise.

But, like Muhammad Ali rope-a-dopin’ fools into submission before knocking their heads off, Anderson ignored his aches and pains in the final minute, going airborne and throwing down an eye-popping shot while sliding through a slender space in the defense made for a gnat.

MVC drained a late trey to cut the margin to three but couldn’t buy a miracle at the buzzer as all five Wolves sold out on defense, forcing an awkward heave in the general direction of the rim as time expired.

Wolf coach Brad Sherman gave 10 players floor time in the win, with seven of them scoring.

Downes finished with a gutsy 25, and heads into a Saturday home game with Neah Bay sitting with 1,127 points, needing 11 to pass Jeff Stone and Mike Bagby.

Anderson banked in 11 in support, with Bronec (6), White (5), Guay (3), Blouin (2), and Davidson (2) also tallying points.

Hurlee Bronec, Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim, and Zane Oldenstadt also saw action for CHS, crashing the boards with intensity.

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