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Posts Tagged ‘Winter Sports Preview’

Time for a stirring encore

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on November 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Alex Murdy is a dynamo on both ends of the floor. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coming off the program’s best campaign in decades, Coupeville High School boys’ basketball wants to keep the good times rolling.

Last season the Wolves, led by a stellar group of seniors, won their first 16 games, captured league and bi-district titles, and advanced to the state tourney.

That had been a long time coming, with the program’s last league title in 2002, when current head coach Brad Sherman was still nailing three-balls as a player.

It had been even longer since the Wolf boys went to state (1988) or won a district crown (1970), but everything clicked during a season in which a different player seemingly carried the team each night.

Gone are those seniors — Logan Martin, Hawthorne Wolfe, Caleb Meyer, Grady Rickner, Xavier Murdy, and Miles Davidson — but the cupboard isn’t bare for Sherman as he enters his sixth season in the lead chair.

Junior Logan Downes was the team’s #3 scorer a year ago, while senior Alex Murdy is a defensive demon who can also torch the net, finishing #4 in buckets on last year’s stacked roster.

They’re joined by five other players with previous varsity experience — seniors Jonathan Valenzuela and Dominic Coffman, and juniors Cole White, Nick Guay, and Zane Oldenstadt.

All five offer big positives.

“Logan is really developing as a complete guard with the ability to score inside and out,” Sherman said. “Had some big games last season and played really well over the summer. He’s going to be tough.

“Alex is a force on defense. He gave teams a hard time at the top of our press and pressuring the ball last year,” Sherman added.

“Offensively he handles the ball well and is really strong around the rim – looking for a big senior year from him.”

Cole White, whose dad Greg joins Hunter Smith and Randy Bottorff on the coaching staff, is a co-captain with Downes.

“Cole is just a smart player who does a nice job finding the right spots on offense, and he’s a really solid defender for us,” Sherman said.

“He was able to step in and give us big minutes last year and has looked really good stepping into a bigger role over the summer and these first two weeks.”

Cole White sets up the play.

Valenzuela and Coffman were major contributors this fall for a CHS football team which won a league title and advanced to state, and both are expected to bring that same electricity to the floor.

“Jon had a great first couple of weeks and is executing a lot of the little things we’ve been emphasizing really well,” Sherman said. “We love the way he’s crashing the boards and getting us second effort shots.

“Dom is a football player on the basketball court – and I mean that in the best way possible.  He’s physical, he flies around, and brings a great energy.”

Oldenstadt and Guay were swing players last season, and the duo make the jump to full-time varsity guys this time around.

Joining them will be a trio of JV vets — juniors Ryan Blouin, William Davidson, and Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim — as well as one newcomer in senior Jermiah Copeland.

Freshman Chase Anderson and sophomores Hunter and Hurlee Bronec are also in the mix to swing between JV and varsity, depending on how things play out.

It’s a group Sherman looks forward to working with.

“Zane, Nick, and Will are doing a nice job battling in the paint playing our four and five spots right now,” Sherman said. “We are looking for them to be physical and win the rebounding battle every night, play strong around the rim, and get after it on defense.

“Ryan worked hard this off-season and gives us another shooting threat on the outside, while Q makes the jump up to varsity because of his defensive presence.

“We are really excited to have Jermiah join us. He’s fitting in well with the team and the system.”

Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim rumbles in the paint.

While players may have changed, team goals have not.

“We want to work really hard with a focus on getting better a day at a time,” Sherman said. “Hit our stride and be playing strong fundamental basketball by the time we hit our league schedule in January.

“Obviously we hope to be right in the mix for a league and district title and be one of those final teams moving on to the state tournament at the end of the season.

“But there’s a lot of work to do between now and then for any team with those goals.”

Coupeville prides itself on its defense, harassing rival ballhandlers and hitting the boards with intensity. That’s a big key going forward.

“Defensively we need to be tough, especially in our ability to pressure the ball, and I certainly think we have that ability,” Sherman said.

“I foresee that being something we do really well,” he added. “The guys returning in our backcourt are going to be a strong group – we could be really tough up top and at our wings, especially in our ability to attack the rim.”

As the new team meshes, the Wolves will focus on winning each small battle, setting them up to triumph in the big wars as well.

“We just want to keep improving on the things we know we need to do well to be successful,” Sherman said.

“Win the rebounding battle every night, execute our defensive system with high energy, get ball reversals and paint touches on offense, communicate on the court, take care of the basketball.

“Excellence is a process, and it requires a mindset of getting better one day at a time. That’s where our focus has to be.”

After some down seasons, the Coupeville gym was crammed with fans last year, a testament to the team’s success, and how the Wolves got there.

“The support from our community was overwhelming last season,” Sherman said. “We hope to keep that same energy in the gym year in and year out through the energy we play with.”

Logan Downes denies you.

Building the culture of the program with an emphasis on “pillars” — grit, gratitude, humility, trust, and excellence — the Wolves look at every foe as a challenge.

Be careful not to overlook any rival teams, but also don’t fear the name on the front of the jersey.

“The team we are playing on any given night isn’t going to change our mindset,” Sherman said. “We need to be prepared to show up and give our best every night regardless of the opponent.

“We just need to be ready every night, work hard, and win our preparation.  If we can do that, hopefully we are in there battling for that league title again this year.”

It’s a team with great promise, ready to write the next chapter in a tale of success.

“We love this group of guys and are excited to see them continue to grow together through the season and keep building that chemistry on the floor,” Sherman said.

“It doesn’t happen overnight – but we had a really good summer through camp, league, and tournament play, and we’ve pushed hard these first two weeks of practice.

“Really looking forward to the season!”

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“The girls really want it this year!”

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , on November 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Gwen Gustafson is part of a strong group of seniors who will lead the way for the CHS girls basketball program. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Become the best by learning from the best.

That’s the plan for the Coupeville High School girls’ varsity basketball team as it heads into year #2 under the direction of head coach Megan Richter.

Coming off of a 9-9 season which included a three-game playoff run, the Wolves are embracing the wisdom of legendary college hoops coach Pat Summitt.

“We have talked a lot about the difference between goals and objectives and refer to what we want to accomplish as objectives,” Richter said.

“Goals have an ending point and objectives are something you master and continue to do.”

With that in mind, Richter and her players are following Summitt’s “Definite Dozen” philosophy, which helped her guide University of Tennessee teams to an NCAA record 1,098 wins and eight national titles.

Some of those tenets include “respect yourself and others,” “take full responsibility,” “make hard work your passion,” and “handle success like you handle failure.”

Summitt preached putting team before self, while always being willing to change in pursuit of continued excellence.

“Those objectives will help us as individuals and as a team be successful on and off the court,” Richter said.

“On top of these objectives, we want to continue to grow our love for the game, continue to create a positive bond with each other, and have fun!” she added.

Coupeville returns a strong pack of seniors who form the core of the team, and Richter will look to them to provide leadership and intangibles.

Maddie Georges, Carolyn Lhamon, and Gwen Gustafson all return, while Alita Blouin is back after missing most of her junior season with an ankle injury.

Ryanne Knoblich, who last played basketball as a sophomore, rejoins the group for their last dance, with newcomer Cecilia Acevedo providing another seasoned senior to the roster.

“Cecilia is a sneaky guard who will be some fresh legs off the bench,” Richter said. “She’s quiet but super smart on the court. I’m excited to add her to our team.

“Ryanne will be a key player this year,” she added.

“She’s one of the hardest working athletes, with one of the best attitudes. She’s going to be a force to be reckoned with down low.”

With her seniors as her rocks, Richter will weave a number of younger players into the lineup, looking for the perfect mix.

“Maddie, Gwen, and Alita are all top guards and we’ll be able to interchange these girls at point and wing to allow us to attack from all angles and keep our legs fresh,” Richter said.

“Carolyn is going to be our most dominant rebounder and post defender this year.”

Carolyn Lhamon battles for position in the paint.

“All of these girls worked extremely hard over the summer to improve their skills and continue to do so in practice,” Richter said.

“All four of them have great leadership skills and have been vocal during practice to push their teammates.”

Coupeville’s aggressive mentality on the defensive end of the floor should be a major strength.

Having players who enjoy each other’s company is another positive.

“Our biggest strength is the bond this team has on and off the court,” Richter said. “It’s really fun to watch them interact and have fun together, and they are just a bunch of kind kids!

“Basketball wise, our strength will be our defense,” she added.

“We are quick and aggressive and starting to really see the floor. Which helps us also be more aggressive and confident on the offensive side as well.”

As the Wolves chase teams such as defending Northwest 2B/1B League champ La Conner — “always a tough team to beat” — Richter wants to see her team play as one solid unit.

“Our biggest challenge so far is communication on the floor,” she said. “We get so locked in on what needs to be done, that we forget to talk to each other.

“Which is the opposite of what happens off the court,” Richter added. “We have been working on this every day in practice and will grow in it as their confidence in themselves grows.”

Wolf coach Megan Richter gets her game face ready.

Coupeville opens play this week with a pair of non-conference tilts.

First up is a road trip Wednesday to South Whidbey, before the Wolves host Lakewood Saturday night.

As she and her team prep for a three-month run on the hardwood, Richter is ready to rock.

“The girls really want it this year, so it’s going to be a fun season to watch for sure!”

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Veteran Wolves chase big-time success

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on November 30, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Hawthorne Wolfe, part of a strong group of Coupeville seniors, averaged 21 points a game last season. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

It’s all been building towards this.

Less than six months after coming within a half-game of a league title, a senior-led Coupeville High School boys basketball team is back to chase the big prize again.

Blessed with experience, speed, and shooters who can rain pain down from anywhere, the Wolves want to claim their first crown since the 2001-2002 season, back when current head coach Brad Sherman was still dropping three-balls as a player.

During a pandemic-altered campaign which moved the 2020-2021 season into spring 2021, Coupeville was often electric, pulling off big wins and bringing a palpable air of excitement back to the CHS gym.

The Wolves, who were one of just two Northwest 2B/1B League schools to play a “full” 12-game set, finished 8-4, a half-game back of league champ Mount Vernon Christian (8-3), and percentage points off of Friday Harbor (7-3).

CHS toppled MVC both times they played, but dropped not one, but two, one-point games to Friday Harbor.

Now, while some pandemic restrictions and Covid testing remain in place, the Wolves are looking forward to a full 20-game schedule, including non-conference tilts with Island rivals Oak Harbor and South Whidbey.

As it aims for league supremacy, and potential postseason success, Coupeville’s mission is simple.

“Play good fundamental basketball,” Sherman said. “Commit on the defensive end of the floor. Win the rebounding battle every night.

“Play basketball our way, and have some fun!”

Sherman and assistant coaches Hunter Smith, Greg White, and Randy Bottorff are focused on making the 105th season of CHS basketball one of its most successful.

“If we do those things, I think we are well positioned at the end of our regular season to keep moving forward,” Sherman said.

“Should be a fun year and we are all — coaches and players — really excited to be back in the gym working!”

Leading the way for the Wolves is four-year starter Hawthorne Wolfe, who enters his senior season with 664 points, putting him 24th (and rapidly climbing) on the all-time CHS boys scoring list.

Fellow seniors Xavier Murdy, Grady Rickner, and Logan Martin are back as well, and a blast from the past has rejoined Wolf Nation.

Caleb Meyer, who played in Coupeville through 8th grade, returns to the town where his grandparents once paid me to watch movies for 12 years at Videoville.

With the curly-haired one back in the fold in time to hit the boards and graduate with his Class of 2022 mates, consider this the Wolves version of The Last Dance.

“Caleb has been an awesome addition to the team,” Sherman said. “Not only as a really talented basketball player, but also as a really strong leader on the floor.”

Caleb Meyer, back where he belongs.

Meyer rejoins gym rat Wolfe, who “can really stretch a defense with his (shooting) range,” and last season’s team MVP, Xavier Murdy, who paced CHS in numerous stat categories.

Toss in Rickner — “a versatile player who does a lot for us on defense, and gives us another long guard on offense who finishes well at the rack” — and the ever-dependable Martin, and the core is super-solid.

“Logan really committed in the weight room this past off-season,” Sherman said about a hard-working athlete who recently signed to compete in track and field for Central Washington University.

“He gives us a great mid-range jumper and strong presence inside.”

Coupeville’s strong batch of seniors is joined by a battle-hardened group of underclassmen all capable of making an impact.

Juniors Alex Murdy, Jonathan Valenzuela, and Dominic Coffman, and sophomores Logan Downes and Cole White can all come out firing.

The younger Murdy was Coupeville’s top defensive player last season, while delivering a moment for the ages when he netted a pair of late-game free throws to ice a 66-65 home win over MVC.

Alex Murdy was electric on both ends of the floor last season.

Downes showed a smooth shooting touch in crunch time as a mere frosh, earning major floor time right out of the gate.

“Logan grew into a big role for us last year and will pick up where he left off,” Sherman said. “He’s a strong athlete, works hard, and can do a lot of different things for us offensively and defensively.

“Been really impressed with him these first two weeks of practice.”

Valenzuela and White swung between varsity and JV last season, while Coffman, coming off of a breakout season on the gridiron, makes his varsity hoops debut.

All in all, it makes for a deep roster filled with high-energy players capable of attacking on both ends of the floor.

“We are quick and athletic at the guard spot, have a few great shooters, and guys who attack the basket really well,” Sherman said. “We just need to be patient, take care of the basketball, and offensively I think we can be tough.”

With a full season ahead of them, the Wolves, who open Wednesday at home against 3A Oak Harbor, are in this for the long haul.

“We want to keep improving in every area as the season progresses,” Sherman said. “I think great teams really embrace that idea of excellence being a process.

“We want to just focus on getting better every week so that we are prepared to finish this thing in a really strong position.”

Five of the seven NWL boys hoops teams had a winning record in the spring, and the two who didn’t — Darrington and Concrete — still came hard every night.

For this Coupeville squad to join the 2001-2002 team in earning a league title plaque on the school’s Wall of Fame, it will come down to accepting every challenge, and overlooking no one.

“Certainly we had some really tight battles last season – and I know our boys are ready to get back out there with those teams,” Sherman said.

“But again I think our focus has to be on showing up prepared, and practicing hard for every single league team we face.”

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“I can’t wait to see where we end up!”

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , on November 28, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Senior Izzy Wells leads a strong group of returning players for the CHS girls basketball program. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Megan Smith is more than a little fired-up.

The #4 scorer in Coupeville High School girls basketball history makes her debut as the Wolf varsity coach this coming Wednesday, and the hardwood legend is rarin’ to go.

“I don’t know if you can tell … but I am beyond excited for this season,” Smith said with a huge smile. “As a first-year head coach, I could not have asked for a better bunch of girls.

“We are going to be a force to be reckoned with this year!”

Megan Smith, who torched the CHS gym nets between 2006-2010, now sits in the same chair her dad, Willie Smith, once owned during his own run as head coach of the Wolf girls hoops program.

After coaching the Coupeville JV the past two seasons, Megan Smith replaces Scott Fox, who stepped down to focus on his health.

With no seniors playing during last year’s pandemic-altered hoops campaign, the new coach inherits a roster of veterans – a team where even the youngsters already have varsity experience.

“We have everyone returning from last year, since we did not lose any seniors, and that’s going to be huge for us!,” Smith said.

With her players already knowing each other, and having worked together on the floor in games, the Wolves are already a well-oiled unit.

“Our biggest strength of this team is the chemistry they have with each other,” Smith said. “This is year two of playing together and not losing anyone.

“They have really meshed well; you can absolutely see it on the court during practice,” she added. “They are so positive and encouraging to each other, all while pushing themselves and others to get better every day.

“I have watched their confidence in each other and themselves grow every day, and that’s such a huge aspect of being a great team!”

Senior Audrianna Shaw, who led the Wolves in scoring during a shortened 12-game season last time out, and junior point guard Maddie Georges lead the returning players.

Joining them to form the core of the team are seniors Ja’Kenya Hoskins, Izzy Wells, and Abby Mulholland, and juniors Carolyn Lhamon, Nezi Keiper, and Gwen Gustafson.

“Maddie and Audri are going to be two big players for us, both as leaders and scorers,” Smith said. “They have really come into this season ready to roll.

“Izzy and Carolyn have really taken over and will be big for us when it comes to rebounding and being a threat down low.”

Post players Keiper and Mulholland both return after not playing last year, helping add crucial depth to the squad.

“Abby, Ja’Kenya, Nezi, and Gwen will all see good minutes this year too, and will be able to help keep the intensity of our game up,” Smith said. “I’m really excited for this team!”

Another bright spot is offered up by an especially-strong class of freshmen, with three 9th graders expected to earn varsity playing time.

Katie Marti will swing between varsity and JV, while Lyla Stuurmans and Savina Wells are actually back for year two of what could be a five-year run of high school varsity excellence.

Savina Wells was a starter as an 8th grader, and is back for more this season.

The younger Wells sister was the #2 scorer for Coupeville as an 8th grader, while showing a willingness to mix it up with older players down low.

Meanwhile, the ever-springy Stuurmans was a standout on defense, constantly disrupting other team’s attempts to advance the ball with quick hands and a nicely feisty attitude.

“Both Savina and Lyla have improved greatly, with such a huge eagerness to learn and get better,” Smith said. “Savina is going to be a threat that teams will have to respect both outside and inside the key.

“Lyla is a natural leader, and will be able to add a lot of hustle and control on the court.

“Katie kind of came out of nowhere. She brings a different, lighter kind of energy to the game, eager to learn, and will be a big player for this program.”

As always, the seven-team Northwest 2B/1B League presents some major obstacles, with every opponent dangerous on a given night.

La Conner, which carries over several players from its state championship-winning volleyball squad, is the favorite, while Mount Vernon Christian is always strong.

“Both teams will be a challenge, but I think we are up for it!,” Smith said. “Our goal for this season is to be competitors in every game, no matter who they are.

“Our schedule contains some tough teams, but we know that we have the team to keep up with them all,” she added. “We want to play our game and come out on top.”

With that in mind, Smith and new Wolf JV coach Greg Turcott have been preaching confidence and commitment.

“We have been working a lot at being scorers first, being less worried about making a mistake, and just playing the game we play in practice,” Smith said.

“We talk a lot about how you play in games like you practice and have been keeping the tempo of our practices intense and fast.”

For now, three days out from opening night and a non-conference matchup with Granite Falls, the Wolves are just ready to get after it. To get out on the floor and see what they can accomplish.

“I think our biggest area needing work is just our experience,” Smith said. “Even though our chemistry is great, we are pretty young when it comes to varsity playing experience.

“The more we play, the better we will get and I can’t wait to see where we end up!”

Senior Ja’Kenya Hoskins wants to go out with a bang.

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New-look Wolf boys ready to rumble

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on May 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Wolf junior Logan Martin is a threat inside and outside. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Brad Sherman has been waiting for this day for 15 months.

When he stepped off the court after a season-ending playoff loss to Mount Baker way back on February 8, 2020, the Coupeville High School varsity boys basketball coach, like all those around him, had no idea what was just around the bend.

But now, after many twists and turns, he and his new team will take the court Tuesday in Mount Vernon, ready to kick off a pandemic-altered hoops season.

The Wolves are scheduled to play 12 games, instead of the normal 18-20, and will do so wearing masks.

After months of basketball being in limbo during the Age of Coronavirus, they’ll take what they can get.

“First off, I’m just extremely grateful that these boys are getting the season they’ve waited and worked for,” Sherman said. “Seeing them together as a team in our gym this past week has been the highlight of this school year.

“Just an awesome group to have the privilege of coaching.”

Much is different this time around, with Sherman’s coaching staff having added two of his fellow former CHS hoops legends in Hunter Smith and Greg White.

The younger Smith replaces his dad Chris, who stepped down as JV coach.

Rounding out the Wolf brain trust is longtime local hoops guru Randy Bottorff, who once coached Sherman when the current CHS head man was first starting off as a player.

The Wolf four-pack of coaches head up a program making its return to the 2B classification and the Northwest 2B/1B League after many years of matching up with 1A and 2A schools in various far-flung outposts.

“Feels like the right fit,” Sherman said. “These are other small schools from rural areas.

“They build their programs from the ground up. They do it like we do it,” he added. “I’m excited to be back where I truly think we belong.”

As he and the Wolves get a feel for new/old foes La Conner, Darrington, Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Mount Vernon Christian, and Concrete, Sherman is prepared for a battle every night.

“This has traditionally been a very competitive basketball league,” he said. “Not prepared to take any team for granted.”

The players on the floor will be a new mix, as well, with nine of the 12 guys who scored during the 2019-2020 season graduating afterwards.

That doesn’t mean the Wolves will be without firepower, however.

Juniors Hawthorne Wolfe and Xavier Murdy lead the new-look squad, and both have excelled in their time in a CHS uniform.

Wolfe led Coupeville in scoring as a freshman, and was a bucket away from doing so again as a sophomore during a season in which he twice topped 30 points in a game.

With 410 career points — the most compiled by any CHS boy through their sophomore season — he sits at #55 on the school’s career scoring chart, which dates back to 1917.

Murdy, who came out all guns blazing after a late start to his sophomore campaign, is #186 on the all-time scoring list with 99 points.

Xavier Murdy can bring the heat offensively and defensively.

“Xavier gave us a big boost at the guard spot when he came back from injury last season,” Sherman said. “He can do a lot for us out on the court – offensively as a scorer and ball handler, and defensively he’s going to be really tough.

“Hawthorne is a returning starter for us who continues to work hard at his game. He’s a guy that’s just going to be really tough to defend on the perimeter with his skillset.”

Two other Wolves offer some experience, with senior Daniel Olson having popped for five varsity points prior to this year, while junior Grady Rickner made his varsity debut in that playoff finale with Mount Baker.

Other Wolves making the jump from JV include seniors TJ Rickner and Sage Downes, juniors Logan Martin, Cody Roberts, and Miles Davidson, and sophomore Alex Murdy.

Wolf seniors (l to r) TJ Rickner, Sage Downes, and Daniel Olson.

Freshman Logan Downes follows Wolfe’s trail in making varsity from day one, while fellow frosh Cole White and sophomore Jonathan Valenzuela are projected as swing players.

“We have a lot of guys making the jump this year; certainly could say positive things about each of them and what they bring to the table,” Sherman said.

It’s a team in transition, one whose strengths will be found in the heat of on-court action.

“Having not played a game in 15 months – and with a very different group on the floor than we had last season, I think that’s something we’re still evaluating,” Sherman said.

“Our backcourt should be really strong, and if we commit to team basketball I think we could be really tough offensively.

“Our ability to get to the rim and take guys off the dribble is something that I think could give teams a hard time.”

While no one would have chosen the pandemic life, it has hopefully helped mold the young Wolves into tougher players.

“I think the grit and resilience of this group is going to be something that serves us well down the stretch,” Sherman said. “The way they stuck with it this off-season, through setback after setback, gives me a lot of confidence in their ability to handle adversity.”

No matter how many games are on the schedule, or when and how they’ll be played, Coupeville’s coach is approaching the new season much as he has his previous ones on the bench.

“No different than any other season. While ultimately we are just extremely grateful for the chance to play, the approach and mindset doesn’t change,” Sherman said. “We don’t want to treat this as an “unusual” season.

“It’s a season, and we plan to prepare, compete, and work our tails off to try and go win basketball games,” he added. “We want to make a strong statement as we enter the new league and this year is an opportunity to do that.”

To do so, the Wolves need to be prepared every time out, and be willing to stretch themselves to meet all challenges.

“An honest commitment to all of the little things that make a complete basketball team (is important),” Sherman said. “We need to take pride in our defensive effort every time we touch the floor.

“We need to be tough, aggressive, and able to trust that every one of our teammates is in a good position behind us.”

The CHS coaches came away from early practices pleased with their player’s effort and commitment. Now, the key is to translate that to in-game success.

“We saw some really good things this first week and I’m proud of the way the guys are starting to come together defensively,” Sherman said.

“On the boards, we cannot win games if we don’t commit to being the better rebounding team on the court every night.

“Short season or not, we just ask for an attitude of excellence in all the little things – a mindset of getting a little bit better every single day.”

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