Priming for the stretch run of conference games that will determine a playoff berth, the Coupeville High School boys basketball team closed out the non-league portion of its schedule with a 61-55 win at Mount Vernon Christian Saturday, Jan. 17.

The Wolves, 0-2 in Olympic League play and 4-8 overall, host Chimacum (2-0, 3-8) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at home in the first of seven consecutive league games. The varsity girls teams will follow at 5:15 p.m.

The Coupeville Booster Club is organizing a “blackout” for the event and will offer prizes and competitions.

The Wolves got its running game going early in the win over Mount Vernon Christian, racing to a 19-14 lead in the first quarter behind six points each from Wiley Hesselgrave and Aaron Trumbull.

In the second period, Trumbull (five points) and Hesselgrave (six) again paced the Wolves as they lead 39-26 at halftime.

Hesselgrave added another seven points in the third quarter and Coupeville entered the final frame with a 50-38 cushion.

The Hurricanes hit three three-pointers in the fourth quarter (and seven overall) to make a run, but the Wolves weren’t seriously threatened at the end, according to coach Anthony Smith.

Aaron Curtin popped in nine points in the last quarter to help stymie any Hurricane comeback hopes.

Smith altered his starting lineup for the game, inserting a guard, Risen Johnson, in place of a post, and the addition of speed paid dividends.

Mount Vernon Christian had trouble with Coupeville’s quickness, which led to 31 free throws for the Wolves; they made 19.

“We were in attack mode,” Smith said. “We got the ball out and ran.”

Since the loss to South Whidbey a few days earlier, Coupeville “refined” a few things on defense, Smith said. Different rotations in the zone helped the Wolves pick off Hurricane skip passes.

Hesselgrave finished with 24 points, Trumbull 13, Curtin 12, Johnson six, Joel Walstad four and C.J. Smith two.

“It was good to get the win; it was good for our confidence,” coach Smith said. “I am happy for the boys, but we still need to practice hard.”

He added, “We have to have the mentality that ‘we haven’t done anything yet.’ League games are the ones that matter.”

Smith scouted Chimacum, calling them “fundamentally sound and big.”