Wolves win foul-filled game | Girls basketball

The officials were in a foul mood, but the Wolves were all smiles.

The Coupeville High School girls basketball team snared its first conference victory of the season with a 53-45, foul-filled win over visiting Lakewood Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The referees called an incredible 55 fouls in the game and the teams combined to shoot an astounding 84 free throws.

The Cougars were whistled for 30 of the fouls, and Coupeville could have made the game a little less tense had they been sharper at the line. The Wolves hit only half of their 46 foul shots. Lakewood was 21-for-38 at the line. One player alone, the Wolves’ Cassidi Rosenkrance, attempted 17 free throws.

The turning point came in the third quarter. The Wolves entered the second half down 21-18, and Lakewood hit a three to start the period for a six-point lead. That would be the only field goal by the Cougs in the quarter as they missed their next 10 shots. From there, eight different Coupeville players scored and the Wolves took a 10-point cushion into the fourth quarter.

Lakewood also missed its first six shots of the fourth quarter but did sink four free throws to cut the margin to 40-34. A few moments later it was 41-36, but the Cougars would get no closer as Coupeville connected on 13 of 27 foul shots to hold on.

The Wolves took only four shots from the field, and made none, in the fourth quarter.

Coupeville jumped to an early lead in the first quarter, then Lakewood tied it at 5. A long two and a three-pointer by Taya Boonstra and another three by Lauren Escalle helped the Wolves go up 15-8 at the end of the period.

Lakewood dominated the second quarter, outscoring Coupeville 13-3 as the Wolves hit only one of 10 field goal tries.

In spite of the cold second quarter, the Wolves, for the game, outshot Lakewood from the field 32.5 percent (11-for-40) to 21.6 percent (11-for-51).

The Wolves had a 37-34 rebounding edge and committed 26 turnovers, four more than the Cougars.

Boonstra continued her hot shooting by leading the Wolves with 12 points. Rosenkrance and Katie Smith scored nine each, Bessie Walstad seven, Escalle six, Shelby Kulz four, Jai’Lysa Hoskins two, Haley Marx two and Hailey Hammer two.

Coupeville coach Jackie Bykonen, who was not pleased with the officiating, said, “At least we got a win.”

She hopes the momentum carries over as her team finishes up conference play this weekend and then heads to district. To have success, her team will “have to minimize the errors,” she said.

Coupeville (1-12, 2-14) goes to Everett Friday, Feb. 3, to face Archbishop Murphy (10-1, 12-4) at 7 p.m. and then hosts South Whidbey (5-4, 6-8) Saturday at noon.

The Wolves will host the first round of district Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m.

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

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