Riding a tough defense and a methodical offense, the Coupeville boys basketball team marched by visiting Granite Falls 44-26 Friday, Jan. 7.

The Wolves’ defense was “lights out” in the first quarter, according to coach Randy King, as Coupeville blanked the Tigers 13-0. The lead jumped to 21-2 at one point before the Wolves went into the break leading 24-8.

King said the Coupeville defense “forced” the Tigers (0-4, 0-10) to “take difficult shots.”

He added, “It was nice to be ahead for a change.”

King said, “The kids played really well, and I thought we were more in control of our offense. Basically we looked inside, that was our focus, and the kids did a good job. We controlled the pace and didn’t hurry our offense.”

The result was 13-point nights for the Wolves’ two post players, Ben Hayes and Hunter Hammer.

King said Hayes and Hammer helped their cause by “working well together” and doing a “good job of screening for each other.”

The Wolves also received strong play from Nevin Miranda, according to King, who started the 6-3 senior to give Coupeville “a bigger lineup.”

Tyler King followed Hayes and Hammer in scoring with nine points; he also had a team-high four assists. Ian Smith added six points and seven rebounds, Miranda finished with two points and Nic Anthony one. Hammer recorded a double-double by grabbing 13 rebounds.

Coupeville (1-4, 2-8) hosts Sultan (1-4, 4-5) Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. and then travels to Lakewood (2-2, 5-5) Friday, Jan. 14.