Boys basketball: Cold-shooting Coupeville falls to Bellevue Christian

Published 11:25 am Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Traditional state power Bellevue Christian stopped the visiting Coupeville High School boys basketball team 49-25 Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The Vikings (4-2) held Coupeville (1-5) to single-digit scoring in each quarter as they methodically built their lead in the nonleague win. Bellevue Christian led 14-5, 24-11 and 35-17 at the quarter breaks.

Coupeville coach Randy King said it was a deadly combination of turnovers, poor shooting and the talent of BC that led to the Wolves’ undoing.

Coupeville shot just 23 percent (10-for-43) from the field and committed 19 turnovers against the Vikings who have qualified for the past 10 state tournaments, winning two.

King said, “We are struggling; we are having a tough time getting the ball in the bucket.”

He added, “We are going through a little adjustment with Hunter (Hammer) coming back. We are changing our emphasis.”

The Wolves have shifted from a guard-oriented attack to getting the ball into Hammer at the block now that the all-league post has returned from an injury.

Ian Smith led the Wolves in scoring with nine points. Ben Hayes and Hammer were next with four each; Tyler King and Dalton Engle scored three each; and Mitch Pelroy had two. Hammer collected seven rebounds, and Tyler King and Nevin Miranda had six each.

Coach King said his club is “playing good defense” and pointed out that holding an opponent to 49 points will usually result in a win.

He said, “We will keep working at it. These kids won’t quit.”

The Wolves round out their tough non-conference schedule with a home match, just their second of the year, against long-time rival La Conner (3-2) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28. The varsity girls start the double-header at 5:15.