Your Coupeville Wolves girls’ varsity basketball team, a moment away from being the 2014-2015 Olympic League champs. (John Fisken photos)
The moment is now.
It has been 13 years since a Coupeville High School basketball team won a league title.
That is a very long time, especially in teenage lives.
This year’s seniors were kindergarteners when a Wolf girls’ hoops squad that included Ashley Ellsworth-Bagby, Brianne King, the Lamb sisters and a young, shot-blocking whippersnapper named Lexie Black captured a 2001-2002 Northwest League banner.
Since that time, nada for Wolf hoops.
There have been good teams, even very good teams (the Wolf boys were 16-5 in 2009-2010), but no league titles, boys or girls.
Friday night (4:45 varsity tip-off) that can, and will, change.
When (not if) the Wolves step on their home floor and put their collective feet down in one emphatic stamp, beating Klahowya and sending a message that this is their time, history will be made.
A victory and Coupeville would be 6-0 in Olympic League play, holding a three-game lead over Klahowya with three to play, and owners of the tiebreaker over the Eagles.
That’s not the end, of course.
This team has more stories to write. More mountains to conquer.
They would be 12-5, which would tie them for the program’s most wins in the last nine seasons. They would sit three games away from a perfect 9-0 debut in their new league.
The playoffs beckon, as well. And a chance to make more history.
Four of this year’s basketball players (Madeline Strasburg, Monica Vidoni, Hailey Hammer and Kailey Kellner, who was a manager) went to state last spring as softball players.
It was Coupeville’s first trip in 12 years, since, yep, the glory girls of 2002.
It hasn’t been as long a gap for basketball, but it has been a gap.
The last Wolf hoops squad to punch its ticket to the big dance was the 2005-2006 team, which lost both its games. That capped a run where CHS girls’ hoops made it to state six times in nine years, bringing home three top-eight banners.
They want to go back. They need to go back.
From the start, though, it has been small steps building into big steps. Reaching a goal, celebrating it, but not looking ahead until there is the next target in place.
Right now, right here, that target is Klahowya in a little over 31 hours.
It is a moment a long time coming. A moment that should be honored.
Skip out early on work. Whatever you are doing, put if off for later.
Be there.
Fill the stands, with every man, woman, child and farm animal that hails from Cow Town.
Be loud ‘n proud. Be there for the pride of your town, for your young women, as they rise up and achieve something a long time coming.
And to you, Makana, Hailey, Mia, Monica, Kacie, Wynter, McKenzie, Julia, Madeline and Kailey, this is your moment. Your time. Your memories waiting to be made.
You have this. It is yours. If you want it badly enough.
Make every pass count. Every shot matter. Every defensive assignment not just a job, but an obsession.
Rise up and make this night your night. Make YOUR gym rattle.
We are all witnesses to what you are going to accomplish.
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Coupeville Sports 