Coupeville collects conference win / Girls basketball

Published 1:30 am Thursday, December 20, 2018

After a slow start, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team took the lead for good in the second quarter on the way to defeating visiting Sultan 44-34 Tuesday, Dec. 18.

The Wolves (2-0, 4-4), who started the season 0-3, have now won three in a row, including two conference contests. They play two non-league games before returning to North Sound Conference play after winter break.

Port Townsend (1-3) visits Coupeville at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, and the Wolves travel to Nooksack Valley (5-3) for a 1 p.m. game Saturday, Dec. 22.

In the win over Sultan, Coupeville suffered through early turnovers and poor shooting to finish the first quarter in a 6-6 tie.

Behind 8 points from Scout Smith, the Wolves perked up midway through the second period. Chelsea Prescott added 4 points and Ema Smith knocked down a three-pointer.

Coupeville took a 15-14 lead and then led 25-21 at the half.

“Our defense got more aggressive; when that happens our offense usually follows,” Coupeville coach David King said.

Prescott, who suffered a nasty fall in the previous game and was a game-time decision for Tuesday, tossed in 6 points in the third quarter to help the Wolves lead 32-25 heading into the final period.

Coupeville was in foul trouble much of the evening, but Sultan failed to take advantage. The Turks hit only five of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter, thwarting a comeback attempt. For the game, Sultan was 12-for-25 at the line. The Wolves weren’t much better, going 11-for-22.

Scout Smith finished the game with a career-high 15 points. Prescott had 12, Lindsey Roberts 7, Ema Smith 6, Avalon Renninger 3 and Mollie Bailey 1.

Three players who didn’t score played key roles in the win, according to King.

“Tia (Wurzrainer) doesn’t get a lot of publicity, however she is our best on-ball defender,” King said. “She does a great job moving her feet and disrupted the player she is guarding.

“Nicole (Laxton) came up big with five big rebounds, two on the offensive end.

“Hannah (Davidson) does the dirty work inside defensively for us. Tonight she had five rebounds, three steals and two assists.”

King also praised the play of Roberts: “She is so versatile; she is able to play any position on both ends of the court. That’s tough for anyone, and she does it very well.”

Roberts registered seven rebounds and two assists; Ema Smith had five rebounds and three assists; and Renninger collected five rounds.