Showing its resolve, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team edged visiting Granite Falls 40-33 Tuesday, Jan. 15.

Playing without two starters (Lindsey Roberts and Hannah Davidson) and letting two leads slip away, the Wolves didn’t panic and pulled out the North Sound Conference win, solidifying their hold on third place in the league standings.

Coupeville overcame the absence of Roberts and Davidson by receiving help from throughout the roster.

“We talked about having each player step up and play a little bigger and add a little more to her game,” coach David King said. “It was not to be put on one or two players.”

The Wolves responded by sharing the load.

After watching leads of 7 and 10 points disappear, Coupeville countered by building a third at the end.

With score tied at 31-31, Chelsea Prescott tallied on a spin move in the post to give the Wolves the lead with just under three minutes remaining. From that point, only one field goal was converted as the teams paraded to the foul line for 16 free throws.

The lone hoop came from Ja’Kenya Hoskins at the 1:15 mark, giving the Wolves a 35-32 lead.

Then Prescott and Scout Smith combined to hit five of the six final foul shots to put the game away. Up to that point, the Wolves were only 2-for-12 at the line.

King lauded the play of all his players and then singled out Hoskins, a freshman swing player from the junior varsity, and Tia Wurzrainer, who received her first start.

Hoskins, in addition to hitting the big hoop in the fourth quarter, brought “energy” to the team, King said, and earned more varsity playing time.

Wurzrainer “did a really good job,” he said, excelling at the defensive end.

Coupeville led 11-4 at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers (2-4, 4-11) rallied to take a 15-14 lead, then the Wolves regained the advantage and led 18-15 at the half.

Coupeville built its cushion to 25-15 before leading 27-20 at the end of the third period.

For the game, Ema Smith guided the offense with 11 points, including hitting a trio of three-pointers and grabbing six rebounds.

Prescott scored 10 points and recorded six steals; Scott Smith finished with 6 points, nine rebounds and four assists; and Hoskins had 4 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Avalon Renninger added 4 points, Nicole Laxton 3 and Wurzrainer 2.

Granite Falls had even scoring with six players scoring between 7 and 4 points.

South Whidbey (0-6, 2-13) visits Coupeville (4-2, 6-7) at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18.

The Coupeville bench likes what it sees in Tuesday’s win over Granite Falls. (Photo by John Fisken)

Ema Smith splits the defense of Granite Falls’ Sadie Hutchinson, left, and Jennifer Rodenbaugh. (Photo by John Fisken)

Ja’Kenya Hoskins (33) looks for an open teammate. (Photo by John Fisken)

Coach David King, right, describes a change for Tia Wurzrainer. (Photo by John Fisken)

Nicole Laxton, right, looks to score for Coupeville. (Photo by John Fisken)

Anya Leavell (12) and Avalon Renninger, back, get ready to rebound for the Wolves. (Photo by John Fisken)

Chelsea Prescott takes the ball to the bucket. (Photo by John Fisken)

Avalon Renninger puts the ball in play with an inbounds pass. (Photo by John Fisken)

Scout Smith prepares to sink an important free throw late in the game Tuesday. (Photo by John Fisken)