Winter preview: Coupeville High School girls basketball

Four two-year letter winners will form the nucleus to the Coupeville High School girls basketball team in 2010-11.

First-year coach Jackie Bykonen will lean on the experience of those veterans: seniors Courtney Arnold and Kendra O’Keefe and juniors Cassidi Rosenkrance and Katie Smith.

The Wolves also welcome back letter winners senior Megan Metlow, junior Taya Boonstra and sophomores Bessie Walstad and Lauren Escalle.

Key newcomers, according to Bykonen, include junior Amanda Manker and sophomore Jai’Lysa Hoskins.

Bykonen said her goal for her club this winter is to “improve every game and for the girls to play with intensity every game.”

Her expectations are that the Wolves will “block out every time, play pressure man-to-man defense, limit turnovers and transition up the floor every time.”

Bykonen said so far this preseason she likes the girls’ “work ethic and willingness to get better,” the team’s “quickness” and the “guard play.”

Coupeville was 6-8 and 12-11 last winter and came within one game of qualifying for tri-district.

The Wolves open at home Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. against Concrete; the game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 30, but was postponed because several practices were cancelled last week because of weather.

Coupeville travels to Meridian Friday, Dec. 3, and Darrington Wednesday, Dec. 8, before returning home for the league opener against Archbishop Thomas Murphy Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. That game will be followed by four away games.

Coupeville High School Girls Basketball 2010-11

Date Opponent Site Time

Tues., Nov. 30 Concrete Coupeville 7 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 3 Meridian Meridian 5:15 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 8 Darrington Darrington 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 10 Arch. Murphy Coupeville 7 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 11 Friday Harbor Friday Harbor Noon

Tues., Dec. 14 Cedarcrest Cedarcrest 7 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 17 King's King's 5:15 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 18 University Prep University Prep 12:30 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 28 La Conner Coupeville 5:15 p.m.

Tues., Jan. 4 South Whidbey Coupeville 5:15 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 7 Granite Falls Coupeville 7 p.m.

Tues., Jan. 11 Sultan Sultan 7 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 14 Lakewood Coupeville 7 p.m.

Tues., Jan. 18 Cedarcrest Coupeville 7 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 21 King's Coupeville 7 p.m.

Tues., Jan. 25 South Whidbey South Whidbey 7 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 28 Granite Falls Granite Falls 7 p.m.

Tues., Feb. 1 Sultan Coupeville 7 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 4 Lakewood Lakewood 7 p.m.

Mon., Feb. 7 Arch. Murphy Arch. Murphy 7 p.m.

Wed., Feb.10 District TBD TBD

Sat., Feb. 12 Tri-district TBD TBD

Tues., Feb. 15 Tri-district TBD TBD

Feb. 17-19 Tri-district Mountlake Ter. TBD

Feb. 25-26 Regionals TBD TBD

March 3-5 State Yakima TBD

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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