Day saved for Wolves

MOUNT VERNON—Redemption is sweet.

Just ask Coupeville junior guard Blake Day, who came through clutch for the Wolves in a 56-54 victory over Mount Vernon Christian Saturday night.

After committing a turnover with 1 minute 10 seconds remaining in the contest that led to the game-tying points, then missing the front end of a one-and-one foul shot with 1:00 left, Day was left in an uncomfortable position.

“I missed that first foul shot, then I lost the ball over there...I didn’t think I was going to have a chance to redeem myself,” he said.

With just over seven seconds to go, Day earned an opportunity to make up for his miscues. After a hard drive to the basket, he was fouled and sent to the free throw line for two shots.

Calmly stepping forward, Day, who was 0-for-1 from the foul stripe with only two points for the game, placed both shots through the net with ease.

“I always wanted to be in that situation...my team called for me and I came through for them,” he said.

Mount Vernon Christian had a chance to win the game, but the Coupeville defensive pressure forced Hurricane Andrew Kaemingk into a rushed three-point shot that clanged off the back iron.

“It looked terrible, but it got up there didn’t it,” a relieved Coupeville coach Randy King said of the last second shot.

Although Mount Vernon Christian continued to get close, they never once had a lead in the game.

Senior Eric Taylor got things rolling for Coupeville, scoring the first four points of the contest. Although he ended the night with those four points, King couldn’t have been more happy with the way Taylor and the other Coupeville big men contained the large Hurricane team. Six-foot-seven post Troy VandenBosch and 6-foot-4 post Aaron Lanting had a difficult time all night getting points and rebounds on the inside.

“Our kids played with so much heart against their big guys,” he said.

After taking the initial lead, the hot first-quarter shooting continued for the Wolves. Sophomore J.J. Marti capped the quarter off with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave Coupeville their largest advantage of the night, 17-10.

For the second consecutive contest, senior Alan Black led the Wolves in points, with 20. He was 8-for-16 from the field and 4-for-9 from behind the three point line.

Marti also had a solid game with 13 points, going 3-for-5 from three point range.

Sophomore Michael Bagby led the Wolves with eight assists, while Taylor had seven rebounds.

The win moved Coupeville to 2-0 in non-league play. Last year it took the Wolves over a month to pick up their second win of the season.

The reason for this year’s early success?

“Everyone can score on this team,” Day said. “I think we have more teamwork and we are more together as a team.”

Coupeville hosted 2A Granite Falls last night and will next play against Bellevue Christian at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12 at Coupeville.

Coupeville 56, Mount Vernon Christian 54

Coupeville 17 13 16 10—56

MV Christian 10 16 16 12—54

CV: Black 20, Marti 13, Bagby 6, Fassalo 5, Taylor 4, Mouw 4, Day 4.

MVC: Visser 16, VandenBosch 12, Lanting 9, Kok 5, Kaemingk 5, Schloemer 4 , Annema 3.

Records: Coupeville 2-0, MV Christian 1-1.

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