Coupeville wins regular-season finale, faces talented LC in district opener / Girls basketball

Published 1:30 am Saturday, February 2, 2019

To counter Granite Falls’ enthusiasm on its Senior Night, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team knew it had to get off to a good start. The Wolves did just that, jumping to an 8-0 lead on the way to winning 38-29 in the regular-season finale Friday, Feb. 1.

Now Coupeville heads to the postseason, and the Wolves face a tough test in the opening round of the eight-team, double-elimination district tournament.

Coupeville (6-4, 8-9), the No. 3 seed from the North Sound Conference, goes to Lynden Christian, the No. 2 seed from the Northwest Conference, at 7:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4. Win or loss, the Wolves will play again Wednesday, Feb. 6, against King’s or Sultan.

Lynden Christian (17-3) was upset last week by Meridian in a game to determine the Northwest Conference’s top seed.

Coupeville 38, Granite Falls 29

“We knew the building would be energized for their six seniors and their last home game,” Coupeville coach David King said. “We matched that energy and then some. Lindsey (Roberts) and Ema (Smith) led us on offense, and all five starters brought an intensity on defense.”

Behind 4 points from Roberts, the Wolves raced to the early lead and led 8-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Smith pumped in three three-pointers and a free throw in the second period, and the Wolves led 24-14 at the break.

The two teams played fairly evenly in the second half, according to King.

Tia Wurzrainer scored 4 points in the third quarter and Roberts 5, including a three when the Tigers were rallying, in the fourth to pace Coupeville after halftime. Chelsea Prescott added 4 points in the final frame.

Ema Smith finished with 12 points, Roberts 10, Scout Smith 4, Prescott 4, Wurzrainer 4, Hannah Davidson 2 and Avalon Renninger 2.

Roberts and Ema Smith each grabbed eight rebounds. Ema Smith also had five steals, and Davidson and Prescott four each.

“This was a good bounce back game for us after a tough schedule in our last two games,” King said. “Very proud of the team in the regular season and especially in league play. We wanted to get that sixth win versus playing .500 ball in league.”