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Posts Tagged ‘season finale’

Scrappy, start to finish

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , , on February 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »

With the high school season done, Taylor Marrs is off to play middle school hoops. (Jackie Saia photos)

They took advantage of every moment they had.

The Coupeville High School JV girls’ basketball squad was limited to 13 games this season, while their varsity counterparts got 20, thanks to rival schools maybe not being as committed as the Wolves are to playing God’s Chosen Sport.

But when the CHS young guns hit the hardwood, they were a scrappy bunch who showed continued improvement every time out.

In her second year at the helm of the JV program, former Wolf ace Kassie O’Neil guided her squad through a campaign which wrapped Tuesday with a rumble at La Conner.

Coupeville fell 64-36 to a strong Braves squad, finishing 2-4 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 5-8 overall.

But while the high school season is done, six Wolf 8th graders who played above their grade level will keep on keepin’ on, moving on to play another eight games for the middle school program.

Ari Cunningham, Taylor Marrs, Ava Lucero, Tenley Stuurmans, Adie Maynes, and Chelsi Stevens start that season Thursday at home against South Whidbey.

The Wolf JV came out on fire Tuesday, battling La Conner almost even for eight minutes.

Ready to attack.

Bryley Gilbert dumped in six points and Haylee Armstrong rattled the rim for the first of her two three-balls as Coupeville headed to the break down just 15-14.

The second quarter was a killer, however, as the Braves used a 21-3 surge to stretch the halftime lead out to 36-17.

The Wolves fought back in the second half, once again playing their hosts almost straight up, as Stuurmans knocked down nine of her team-high 11 points after the break.

Gilbert finished with seven in support of her young teammate, while Armstrong (6), Maynes (5), Capri Anter (3), Lucero (2), and Brynn Parker (2) also scored.

Stevens, Cunningham, Marrs, and Lexis Drake rounded out the Wolf roster, with all seeing floor time.

 

Final scoring stats:

Haylee Armstrong – 134
Tenley Stuurmans – 90
Bryley Gilbert – 59
Adie Maynes – 36
Capri Anter – 33
Brynn Parker – 29
Lexis Drake – 16
Teagan Calkins – 9
Ari Cunningham – 9
Taylor Marrs – 6
Chelsi Stevens – 5
Ava Lucero – 4

**Missing 26 points​​**

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It’s a wrap for CMS boys

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , on December 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Nick Laska led CMS basketball in scoring this season. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Put the bus back in the barn and start getting ready for track season.

The Coupeville Middle School boys’ basketball teams reached the end of the road Wednesday, vying with ultra-tough Lakewood on the road.

While the Wolves, who were without several players due to illness, dropped all three games, they finished strongly.

After the program went winless a year ago, coaches Alex Evans, RayLynn Ratcliff, and Jaylen Nitta combined to lead their squads to five victories in 2023.

While the 8th graders move on up to high school ball next season, a pack of feisty 6th and 7th graders will be back, and the next generation is already hankering to join them on the court.

Jaylen Nitta keeps a watchful eye on the young Wolves.

How things played out Wednesday:

 

Level 1:

CMS 8th grader Nick Laska capped a season in which he led all Wolf scorers, dropping in seven more against a stingy defense.

Kamden Ratcliff scorched the net with a three-ball to provide Coupeville’s only other points on the day.

Carson Grove, Nathan Niewald, Calvin Kappes, Khanor Jump, and Jackson Sollars also saw floor time for the Wolves, while Liam Lawson and Chayse Van Velkinburgh finished the campaign on the couch.

 

Level 2:

River Simpson, a hard-charging defensive dynamo, paced the Wolves with three points in the finale.

Joining him in the scorebook were Roger Merino-Martinez (2), Diesel Eck (2), Jump (1), and Jayden Little (1).

Lincoln Wagner, Xander Beaman, Treyshawn Stewart, Trent Thule, and Maverick Walling also pulled on the uniform and waged hardwood havoc for Coupeville.

 

Level 3:

Deacon Frost finished the season on a rampage, dumping in a game-high 16 points at Lakewood.

That carried him all the way to #3 on the scoring list, while Aiden Wheat hit a three-ball for the second-straight game.

Johnathan Jacobsen banked in a bucket and Jacob Lujan slipped a free throw through the net to complete the afternoon’s offensive output.

William Tierney, Simpson, Mario Martinez, Wagner, Beaman, and Jonah Weyl were also in action one more time.

Khanor Jump comes in hot.

 

Final individual scoring stats:

Nick Laska – 83
Chayse Van Velkinburgh – 51
Deacon Frost – 42
Johnathan Jacobsen – 30
Xander Beaman – 29
Diesel Eck – 25
Carson Grove – 24
Calvin Kappes – 22
Khanor Jump – 21
Roger Merino-Martinez – 18
Lincoln Wagner – 18
Kamden Ratcliff – 17
Jayden Little – 16
River Simpson – 14
Treyshawn Stewart – 10
Maverick Walling – 8
Aiden Wheat – 8
Nathan Niewald – 6
Jacob Lujan – 5
Trenton Thule – 4
William Tierney – 4
Mario Martinez – 2
Jonah Weyl – 2

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“It was a very fun game”

Posted in soccer, tagged , , , , on October 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville varsity booters rock the mic during Saturday’s JV finale. (Christi Messner photo)

End on a happy note.

Coming off of a miserable final varsity game played in a typhoon on Orcas Island, the Coupeville High School soccer squad was looking for a positive ending.

And they found it Saturday at home, as the Wolf JV put up a strong fight on a sunny day, pushing Northwest 2B/1B League heavy hitter Friday Harbor every step of the way.

While Coupeville’s co-ed team fell 3-0 to the visitors, Wolf coach Kimberly Kisch was pleased with the effort.

“The sun was shining, and everyone gave it their all for their final game of the season,” she said.

“I would say they have greatly improved,” Kisch added. “I saw them setting up some great plays!”

With the CHS girls program shut down this season, Kisch and eight of her players joined up with Robert Wood and the Wolf boys’ team.

The union has been a success, and Saturday’s game was proof.

It was also a strong statement for the talent to be found on the second team, young players developing their skill set with the hopes of making the jump to varsity in the future.

The bright future of CHS soccer. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“Sam (Richards) was killer in goal, saving a rapid-fire attempt from Friday Harbor,” Kisch said. “Then he was a force to be reckoned with on the wing.

“Sage (Arends), Dane (Hadsall), and Sam had shot attempts, but none made it through.”

Kisch also praised Lydia Price and Hurlee Bronec, who “were a brick wall on the defensive line” and Solomon Rudat and Angel Partida, who “made a couple of fantastic runs.”

While the JV players were battling their rivals, Coupeville’s varsity players got to experience a different side of the game.

Andrew Williams, Preston Epp, and Cael Wilson “did announcements with hilarious commentary,” while Ezra Boilek and Hank Milnes joined Wood in reffing.

While Kisch was in charge, she got “coaching” help from departing seniors Nick Guay, Cole White, and Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim.

Seeing the game from a different angle gave the booters a new perspective.

“Quinten stated, now I understand why coaches yell so much. This is stressful,” Kisch said with a laugh.

New additions to the coaching staff. (Kimberly Kisch photo)

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JV spikers close with a win

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on October 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Carly Burt smoked six aces Thursday to spark a JV win. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Boom. Exclamation point on the season.

The Coupeville High School JV spikers still have a Halloween-themed practice on the docket, but the Wolves closed out their game schedule with a bang Thursday.

Sweeping host Friday Harbor in three torrid sets, the young guns nailed down their first road win of the campaign, snapped a three-game skid, and capped things with a sweet W.

The victory lifts Coupeville’s final record to 3-5 in Northwest 2B/1B League action, 5-9 overall.

Even playing with just six players — freshman Lexis Drake was back in Coupeville in her other role as a Wolf cheerleader celebrating big bro Jaje’s Senior Night on the gridiron — CHS brought the fury.

It capped a season of learning for a very young roster, which featured five freshmen and a limited bench.

“I will say, this last little chunk of the season, I’ve appreciated them more and more with the work they’re putting in,” said Coupeville coach Ashley Menges.

And while the JV team is done playing, at least one spiker continues on, as Chloe Marzocca, who delivered a team-high 11 aces Thursday, has been added to the varsity roster for the playoff push.

Chloe Marzocca sacrifices her body for the good of the team. (Kaityln Leavell photo)

 

Thursday stats:

Capri Anter — 1 kill, 2 digs, 7 aces
Haylee Armstrong — 5 kills, 2 assists, 2 aces
Carly Burt — 6 aces
Chloe Marzocca — 1 kill, 5 assists, 11 aces
Myra McDonald — 1 kill
Dakota Strong — 1 kill

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Fab finale for CMS spikers

Posted in Middle School, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on October 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Tenley Stuurmans warms up her spiking arm. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The Wolves delivered a knockout punch in the finale.

Wrapping its season in style Monday, the Coupeville Middle School varsity volleyball squad rallied on the road to stun Lakewood in a three-set thriller.

It was only the second loss this season for the Cougars, who funnel players to a large 2A high school.

Before Monday’s KO, Lakewood had only fallen to private school terror King’s.

While Coupeville’s JV teams weren’t able to win in their matchups, both of those squads capped seasons of improvement, especially the “B” unit.

How the finales played out:

 

Varsity:

Coming off of a tense two-match duel with South Whidbey last week, the Wolves pulled off the win of the season.

Building strongly through the match, Coupeville came out on top 19-25, 26-24, 15-8 to capture its third win of the season.

“Our girls truly demonstrated their determination and resilience, making it an unforgettable last game,” said CMS coach Cris Matochi.

“Despite facing some ups and downs, our team was more than prepared to face Lakewood and pressed on the gas pedal when it mattered the most.”

Adie Maynes defies the laws of physics.

Everything was seemingly against the Wolves — a long bus ride, a highly rated foe, the absence of key player Sydney Van Dyke, who was nursing an injury.

None of it mattered, as Coupeville’s active players pulled together and played as a well-oiled unit.

“A remarkable display of teamwork,” Matochi said. “Our players exhibited an impressive ability to keep the ball in play throughout the game.

“Their determination to take care of business was evident,” he added.

“The fact that the team rallied together and leaned on one another in Sydney’s absence speaks volumes about the strength and unity within our squad.”

Lakewood actually had match point at 24-23 in the second set, only for the Wolves to snatch the momentum back.

“We were not ready to go home and came back from the ashes stronger than ever,” Matochi said.

“Our serving was great tonight, and our defensive performance and serve receive were solid.

“The rallies were long and intense, but our players kept fighting for every point, demonstrating unwavering commitment and teamwork.”

As he looks back on the season, with its highs and lows, Matochi is grateful for the experience.

“(Fellow coach) Kristina (Hooks) and I would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our players, as well as the parents and guardians who have supported us throughout this incredible season,” he said.

“Their dedication and unwavering support have been instrumental in our growth, and we couldn’t be more appreciative.”

In the moment, he wants his players to bask in their ability to mesh as a team, while also casting an eye on what they can accomplish in the future.

“As we reflect on this fantastic season, let’s celebrate this remarkable victory against Lakewood and look forward to what the future holds for our team,” Matochi said.

“The hard work, passion, and unity that define us will undoubtedly lead to more memorable moments on the volleyball court within years to come.”

Maynes and fellow 8th graders Rhylin Price (14) and Willow Leedy-Bonifas exit with a win.

 

JV – Level A:

The Wolves ran into a buzzsaw, falling 25-9, 25-7, 15-10.

While there were some bright moments for Coupeville, inconsistency killed any chances of mounting a truly strong fight.

“It seems like the team may have faced some challenges in today’s game due to a lack of focus and preparation during their recent practice sessions,” Hooks said.

“Additionally, Lakewood’s strong serving may have posed a tough challenge for our team’s serve receive.”

 

JV – Level B:

While the Wolves lost 25-20, 25-10, 15-13, the young guns continue to impress Hooks with their work as individuals and as a team.

“These girls are just happy to be out on the court and it shows,” she said. “They didn’t pay attention to the score at all and were always supportive of their teammates.”

Hooks offered particular praise for Alexandra Lo, whose upbeat personality has provided a guiding light for the team.

“I was impressed to see Alex step up and be a leader on the court,” Hooks said.

“She would tell her teammates to move up or back depending on how deep or short the serve had been landing.

“She always has a positive attitude, and you can tell that she wants her AND her teammates to do well.”

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