Tiffany Briscoe was back in the lineup Monday. (John Fisken photo)
Toss the third quarter.
Accept that deal and the Coupeville High School JV girls’ basketball team won a thriller Monday night.
Can I get a show of hands? We’re all fine with that and … South Whidbey doesn’t want to go along with that plan?
Dang.
So, add back in the third quarter, a 22-5 Falcon run spurred by swing player McKenzie Collins, and the folks from Langley strolled off with a 41-26 non-conference win.
The loss dropped the young Wolves to 6-5 on the season.
But, like I said, take away that one quarter, when the varsity-experienced Collins terrorized the Wolf ball-handlers, making off with a series of steals, and it was a nail-biter.
Kailey Kellner kicked things off with a game-opening three-point bomb and the two teams battled through a defensive-minded first half that ended with South Whidbey clinging to a 12-10 lead.
“It was a scrappy back-and-forth game for the first half,” said Wolf coach Amy King. “A lot of shots went up on both ends without many falling.”
The second half was a different affair, as Collins and foul trouble both plagued the Wolves.
An already-thin bench got thinner when point guard Lauren Grove fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
“That hurt us,” King said. “She just started to get pressure on their ball handler and got a few steals, then that last foul came and took her tough defense out of the picture.”
Sparked by the return of Tiffany Briscoe, back after missing several games with an injury, the Wolf defense fought hard all night long.
Kellner had the play of the game with “a firm block that was great! Shook the gym and knocked her to the ground.”
The sophomore paced the Wolves with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Grove, Kyla Briscoe and Lauren Rose chipped in with four points apiece.
Skyler Lawrence knocked down three, Tiffany Briscoe popped for two and Allison Wenzel hit a free throw.
Lawrence hauled down a team-high nine boards, while Wenzel snagged six and Tiffany Briscoe snatched five. Rose (4) and Grove (3) paced the team in steals, with Grove also collecting two blocked shots.
Coupeville Sports 