Cedar Park Christian’s one-woman show, Irena Korolenko, proved to be the difference in the Eagles’ 37-28 win over the Coupeville High School girls basketball team Friday, Jan. 25.
Korolenko scored 25 of CPC’s 37 points; only three Eagles scored in the game.
The 5-11 junior’s big game offset Coupeville’s more balanced attack and clinched second-place for Cedar Park Christian (7-2, 11-6) in the North Sound Conference standings.
The Wolves (5-3, 7-8) dropped to third, where they will remain regardless of the outcome of the final two regular season games.
Coupeville squares off with first-place King’s (8-0, 14-4) at home at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, and then goes to Granite Falls (3-6, 5-13) at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.
The district tournament begins Monday, Feb. 4.
Cedar Park 37, Coupeville 28
Coupeville scored the game’s first 3 points, then Cedar Park Christian tallied 8 straight to go up 8-3 at the end of the opening period.
Ema Smith hit a three-ball for the Wolves in the second quarter to help the Wolves outscore the Eagles 7-6, making it 14-10 at halftime.
Coupeville got to within 2 in the third period but trailed 22-16 heading into the fourth quarter. Only two Eagles scored in the first three periods.
Korolenko poured in 12 points in the final quarter to counter a three-ball from Scout Smith and 4 points from Ema Smith.
The Eagles led by as many as 11 points in the fourth; Coupeville got no closer than 6.
Ema Smith finished with 10 points; Scout Smith, Hannah Davidson and Lindsey Roberts 4; Chelsea Prescott 3; Avalon Renninger 2; and Ja’Kenya Hoskins 1.
Roberts and Hoskins each grabbed eight rebounds and Davidson 6. Renninger added three assists and Ema Smith two blocks.
The Wolves struggled from the foul line, hitting only 10 of 22. The Eagles were 7-for-7, all by Korolenko.
Coupeville’s Hannah Davidson puts up a shot between Cedar Park Christian’s Hannah Kudlacz (10) and Sela Flynn (35). (Photo by John Fisken)
Lindsey Roberts powers up a shot against Cedar Park. (Photo by John Fisken)
