When wins are hard to come by, losing a close one can be worse than a lopsided setback.
The Coupeville High School boys basketball team, now 1-4 in Olympic League play and 1-10 overall, fell 63-56 in overtime to visiting Chimacum Friday, Jan. 6.
The Wolves now have three consecutive non-league games help get over the sting of the tough conference loss.
First, the Wolves host Sequim (2-10) at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, and then hit the road twice, going to Mount Vernon Christian (5-5) at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, and North Mason (5-6) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.
The Wolves came from 10 points down in the first half to tie Chimacum, setting up a back-and-forth finish in regulation.
In the fourth quarter, Ethan Spark drained a bucket for Coupeville to knot the score at 47, then Hunter Smith hit Hunter Downes with a nice pass to put the Wolves ahead.
Chimacum regained the lead, then Spark hit another tying shot to even the game at 51.
Downes gave the Wolves a temporary lead with a free throw, then Chimacum countered with just over minute remaining.
Neither team could convert again, sending the game into overtime.
The Cowboys began the extra period with two baskets then hit a third while Gabe Wynn sank a field goal and a free throw and Downes hit one from the stripe to get the Wolves within two, 58-56.
Chimacum then cemented the win with a three-ball with 38 seconds remaining in OT.
Both teams could have secured the win in regulation had they shot better from the foul line.
The Cowboys made only 10 of 19, but Coupeville was colder, making just 16 of 31.
Coupeville started the game well. Downes scored 4 points in the first quarter to spark to Wolves to a 9-6 lead.
The Cowboys then started the second quarter on a 13-0 run, making it 19-9. Coupeville battled back, finally catching Chimacum in the third period and regained the lead on a long-range hoop by Wynn.
Smith paced the Coupeville attack with 15 points; Wynn and Downes each scored 11; Spark had 9; Brian Shank collected 7; and Steven Cope registered 3.
