BOTHELL — Geoff Kappes saw the great result of what happens when a plan comes together in Thursday night’s tri-district playoff game against Bellevue Christian.

Unfortunately, on the same night, the Coupeville coach also saw what happens when a plan unravels.

After playing a near-perfect first half against the state’s fourth-ranked Vikings, the Wolves stumbled in the second half, falling 42-29.

“Right out of the gate we started out very, very well,” Kappes said. “We did exactly what we wanted to do. We caused a lot of trouble for their big girl (Melissa Reich), she was getting frustrated and that’s just what we needed.”

Just as planned, Coupeville hounded Bellevue Christian’s 6-foot-2 post, who averaged nearly 17 points per game in the regular season. She managed just two points in the first quarter.

Coupeville, on the other hand, found success with its four six-foot players as a result of guard penetration and good passes. By the end of the first CHS led 10-9 and appeared to be in sync on every level.

The Wolves kept that momentum until about one minute left in the second quarter. Then the wheels started to come off.

“We kind of got caught up in the moment,” Kappes said. “They pulled up by five and then it just became a mental thing for us.”

Reich, who was held to just two points through the first 11 minutes, scored five points before the end of the half, helping Bellevue Christian to a 22-17 halftime lead.

Reich continued her charge in the third quarter by scoring 10 straight points, helping her team outscore Coupeville 12-1 for the quarter.

“We lost track of her a couple of times, the communication kind of broke down,” Kappes said.

Coupeville also struggled offensively in the third. The Wolves were 0-for-8 from the field and had seven of their 21 total turnovers in the quarter.

By the end of the third, the Vikings led 34-18 and never looked back.

CHS sophomore Hayley Ebersole led the Wolves with 10 points, while senior Brittany Black contributed eight points, including two three pointers in the fourth quarter.

Reich led Bellevue Christian with 17 points.

Both teams had already qualified for state, but the win allowed the Vikings to play for the tri-district number one seed against Seattle Christian tonight. The Wolves play for the number three seed at 9 a.m., today, Feb. 25 at Mountlake Terrace High School against Overlake.

“We’re going to bust our tail to get a third seed,” Kappes said.

Coupeville 10 7 1 11 — 29

BC 9 13 12 8 — 42

Scoring: Coupeville-Ebersole 10, Black 8, Mouw 5, Burgoyne 4, West 2. Bellevue Christian-Reich 17, Teng 9, Oldham 5, J. Orrestad 3, King 2, L. Orrestad 2, Patton 2, Rech 2.