Coupeville girls win two more

After just five games, the Coupeville girls basketball team has equaled its win total of last year thanks in part to a weekend sweep of Chimacum and Meridan at home Friday and Saturday.

The Wolves thumped Chimacum 37-14 and the Trojans 43-28.

In the win over the Cowgirls Friday, the Coupeville defense limited Chimacum to two, one, four and seven points in the four quarters. Only two Cowgirls scored, and Samantha Benner had 11 of the 14 points.

Coupeville got a big game out of Ashley Manker. She picked up 16 points after entering the game with seven over the previous three games. She also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and four steals.

Marie Hesselgrave had a strong all-around performance with six points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Megan Smith scored seven for Coupeville, Katie Smith four, Cassidi Rosenkrance two and Kendra O’Keefe two.

Defense again was the key in the Wolves’ win over Meridian Saturday.

Coupeville held the Trojans to single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters and just nine points in the second half.

After the Trojans started the game on top 8-2, Coupeville went on a 12-0 run. From that point the teams remained close until the third quarter.

The Wolves tough man-to-man defense wore down Meridian. Coupeville’s Courtney Boyd and Rosenkrance’s constant pressure on the Trojan guards kept the visitors uncomfortable and forced them out of their offense.

Meanwhile, the Wolves solved Meridian’s 1-3-1 zone and found Hesselgrave at the block for several buckets during their 11-4 run in the third quarter to take a 33-23 lead into the final period.

Megan Smith had another big game for Coupeville. She scored 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded three steals.

Hesselgrave finished with nine points, four rebounds and three steals. Manker had six points and seven rebounds, Boyd five points and five steals, Rosenkrance two points and O’Keefe two points.

Coupeville coach Blake Severns said, “We played really good defense. We made them make good passes. We settled down (offensively) in the second half and made some adjustments.”

Coupeville won the battle of the boards 32-16, rarely giving Meridian offense rebounds and second opportunities.

The Wolves are now 4-1 for the year; they begin league play Friday, Dec. 18, at home against South Whidbey at 7 p.m.

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

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