A dominant second quarter and a gutsy finish carried the Coupeville High School girls basketball team to a 43-32 win over visiting South Whidbey Monday, Jan. 12.
The Wolves won both nonleague games this season against the Falcons, adding Monday’s victory to a 47-23 win Dec. 2.
The two teams traded punches in the first quarter, with the Wolves coming out with a narrow 12-10 lead behind four points by Kacie Kiel, a three-ball from Madeline Strasburg and a three-point play by Monica Vidoni.
The Falcons went cold in the second quarter, unable to solve Coupeville’s defense.
Coupeville coach David King said he usually doesn’t zone the Falcons, but mixed up his defenses Monday and received good results.
“We played outstanding defense, especially zone defense,” he said.
Two free throws by Megan Drake was it for South Whidbey in the period as the Wolves went into the locker room up 25-12.
While the Coupeville defense was frustrating the Falcons, Makana Stone scored 11 of her game-high 13 points in the period to pace the Wolves’ offense.
Two points each from Strasburg, Julia Myers and Kiel in the third period gave Coupeville its biggest lead, 31-14.
South Whidbey, which had only 14 points in 21 minutes, then scored 11 points in 90 seconds to make it 33-25 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.
Two three-balls by Emily Turpin and another from Kacie Hanson spurred the South Whidbey surge.
The Falcons cut the gap to five, 37-32, with 1:19 left.
From that point, the Wolves toughened and the Falcons faded.
The Wolves, shaky at the foul line all season, showed their mental toughness and sank six straight (two each from Strasburg, Mia Littlejohn and Stone) to finish off the Falcons.
South Whidbey (2-8) struggled at the end, committing three turnovers and missing three shots.
Stone added 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks to her 13 points.
Strasburg had 11 points, Kiel six (and three assists), Myers four, Vidoni three, Littlejohn two, Hailey Hammer two and Wynter Thorne two.
“We were more patient on offense,” King said. “It is something we worked on all week.”
Coupeville out-rebounded South Whidbey 37-26.
Coupeville (2-0, 8-4) goes to Mount Vernon Christian (7-3) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, for its final non-conference game. The Hurricanes are ranked eighth in the state 1B Associated Press poll.
The Wolves complete the regular season with seven consecutive league games, beginning with Chimacum (1-1, 2-8) Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a double header with the boys varsity teams.
The boys play at 3:30 p.m. and the girls at 5:15.
The Coupeville Booster Club is encouraging all Wolves’ fans to pack the gym and wear black to show support for the Coupeville teams. The club will be sponsoring give-aways and competitions with prizes throughout the contests.
