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Posts Tagged ‘Spokane’

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do when CJ Smith comes for you?

Maybe ask him for his autograph?

The Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Famer is back in the news, as his law enforcement career continues to blossom.

Smith, the oldest of Charlotte Young and Chris Smith’s three children, was sworn in as a deputy Monday with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department.

The 27-year-old, who recently celebrated his first wedding anniversary with fellow former Wolf superstar Sylvia (Hurlburt) Smith, previously worked for the Mercer Island Police Department for four years.

CJ arrived in Coupeville midway through his sophomore year after a family move, and immediately became one of the linchpins for Wolf sports teams.

He played football, basketball, and baseball at CHS, with his biggest impact on the diamond, where he pitched the Wolves to their first league title in 25 years.

“Captain Cool” went on to play baseball at Green River College alongside lil’ bro Hunter, where he earned his degree, and also pulled a stint as JV diamond coach for his alma mater.

CJ’s swearing in comes on the heels of sister Scout being hired as the new JV girls’ basketball coach at CHS.

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Coupeville’s Maddie Georges rocks her All-State basketball uniform. (Suzan Georges photos)

One more chance to earn some floor burn.

A week after graduating from Coupeville High School, hoops hotshot Maddie Georges capped her prep sports career by playing in the Washington All-State Girls’ Basketball Games.

The event, held Saturday at the HUB Sports Center in Yakima, featured some of the best players in the Northwest across three games.

Georges suited up for the West squad in the 2B/1B game, while other contests pitted 1A/2A players and 3A/4A hoopsters.

Ready to rumble.

Repeatedly drilling three-balls from deep, while employing a full-court press defense into the waning moments of the game, the East came out on top 99-64 in the 2B/1B tilt.

Colfax sophomore Brynn McGaughy, the 2B state player of the year during the 2022-2023 season, was tabbed as the game’s MVP.

A six-foot-two post who has already been offered a full ride by NCAA D-I power Stanford, she was one of seven East players who are 5-10 or taller.

The West, which featured players from top teams like Neah Bay and Lummi Nation, only had two girls who topped 5-8.

Among the best of the best. 

Georges, the only West player who consistently drained her free throws in the all-star game, was one of two players hailing from the Northwest 2B/1B League.

The Wolf gunner was joined by Orcas Island sophomore Ava Ashcraft.

With her high school days behind her, Georges is off to Western Washington University in the fall.

During her time at CHS, the younger sister of Alex and Taylor Evans was a two-sport star, excelling for Wolf volleyball and basketball teams.

Georges was an All-Conference selection in both sports and joined fellow Wolf senior Alita Blouin in playing in the 1B/2B/1A All-State volleyball games.

As a basketball star, she ran the point for the Wolves, finishing as the #24 career scorer in Coupeville’s 49-year program history, despite being a pass-first player who lost a chunk of games to the pandemic.

Always looking for the smart pass, always looking to set up teammates for success.

In the days leading up to graduation, Georges received the Cliff Gillies Award, named in tribute to a longtime Executive Director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

That honor recognizes student/athletes who excel in scholarship, citizenship, and participation in activities.

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Coupeville freshman Chase Anderson battles in the paint against Mount Vernon Christian. (Chloe Marzocca photo)

No titles, but plenty of trophies.

Four Northwest 2B/1B League basketball teams played at the state tourney in Spokane this weekend, with three squads collecting hardware.

None of Coupeville’s conference rivals made it to a title game, with the Mount Vernon Christian girls — the defending 1B state champs — making it the furthest before being toppled in the semifinals Friday by top-ranked Neah Bay.

How NWL teams did in the spotlight at the Spokane Arena:

 

MVC girls:

The fourth-ranked Hurricanes didn’t repeat as state champs, but did beat their seeding, claiming 3rd place after winning two of three games over the weekend.

MVC had a bye Wednesday, then thunked Odessa 49-36 Thursday.

After falling 64-41 Friday to Neah Bay, the private school hoops stars bounced back Saturday to drill Inchelium 56-40 and finish the season at 24-5.

 

La Conner girls:

Warden got them again.

Any chance the #6 Braves had to add a 2B hoops state title to their volleyball crown fell by the wayside Thursday, when La Conner was run off the floor 58-43 by the same team which KO’d them last season.

Other than that, the Braves were on target, beating Northwest Christian (Colbert) 60-44, Rainier 67-47, and Adna 52-46.

That final win required a rally, as La Conner, down by six heading into the fourth quarter Saturday, closed on a 23-11 run to finish 22-6 and claim a 4th place trophy.

 

Orcas Island boys:

The Vikings shocked the seeding committee, which placed them #16 in the 20-team 1B field.

After surviving back-to-back loser-out state tourney games to get to Spokane, Orcas split four bouts in as many days in Eastern Washington to finish 23-11 and bring home a 6th place trophy.

The islanders beat Oakville 72-43, lost to Sunnyside Christian 56-47, came back to bounce Moses Lake Christian 67-39, then closed with a 71-63 loss to Mossyrock in a Vikings vs. Vikings showdown.

 

MVC boys:

The Hurricanes, seeded #10 in 1B, were one-and-done in Spokane, falling 56-50 to Cusick Wednesday and finishing the season at 21-7.

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Coupeville’s Ja’Kenya Hoskins battles with Mount Vernon Christian’s Kylee Russell this season. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The 15th time was the sweetest.

After never finishing higher than fifth place in 14 previous trips to the state tournament, the Mount Vernon Christian girls basketball program achieved nirvana Saturday night.

Holding off Neah Bay 37-33 at the Spokane Arena, the Hurricanes captured the 1B state title.

It’s the third crown for teams from the Northwest 2B/1B League during the 2021-2022 school year.

In the fall, La Conner won the 2B volleyball title, while Orcas Island ruled 2B/1B boys soccer.

MVC, which handed Coupeville 55-24 and 43-23 losses in league play, finishes 23-3.

The Hurricanes knocked off Pomeroy, Naselle, Garfield-Palouse, and Neah Bay in the 16-team state tourney to claim the crown.

Getting the final victory was a bit of struggle, however, as MVC trailed by 11 points in the second half.

Still down four with less than four to go, the ‘Canes closed the season on an 8-0 run, with five different players scoring.

Kylee Russell, Allie Heino, Caitlin Vander Kooy, Emma Droog, and Hannah Van Hofwegen all chipped in to fuel the frantic final run.

The championship caps a postseason in which five NWL hoops teams made it to the state tourney.

On the boys side, Coupeville pushed Kalama and Lake Roosevelt hard in 2B tourney games in their first trip to the big dance in 34 years, while MVC and Orcas Island made the 1B draw.

The Hurricane boys beat Riverside Christian, before being eliminated by Lummi Nation.

Orcas lost to Wellpinit in its one state game.

The NWL team which was heavily favored to win a state title, the top-ranked La Conner girls, finished fourth after being upended by eventual champ Warden in the quarterfinals.

The Braves, who opened with a win over Chief Leschi, rebounded from their loss to beat Lake Roosevelt and Raymond.

Liberty (Spangle) won the 2B boys crown, joining Warden as champs, while the Cusick boys matched the MVC girls in bringing home the biggest hardware.

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Wolves (left to right) Cole White, Logan Downes, and Grady Rickner soak up the atmosphere at the 2B state basketball tourney.

Marinate in the moment.

The Coupeville High School boys basketball team went back to the state tournament for the first time in 34 years, building memories every step of the way.

The pics above and below, capturing a behind-the-scenes look at the Wolves in Spokane, come to us courtesy Morgan White.

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