A first-half blitz carried the Bellevue Christian girls basketball team to a 55-23 win at Coupeville in a loser-out, district play-in game Saturday, Feb. 10.

The Wolves finished the season with an 8-14 record after starting the year 0-6.

BC improved to 13-8 and advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Bremerton.

Bellevue Christian’s pressure defense frustrated Coupeville early. The Wolves committed 12 first-half turnovers, many leading to transition points for the Vikings.

The miscues also limited Coupeville’s scoring opportunities, and the Wolves didn’t get on the board until 23 seconds remained in the first period. Chelsea Prescott’s bucket made it 12-2 at the quarter break, and the second period wasn’t much better for Coupeville.

Lindsey Roberts scored 5 points in the second quarter, but the Vikings continued to pull away and led 29-8 at halftime.

The Wolves were hurt by fouls in the first half as starters Ema Smith and Kyla Briscoe each sat a chunk of time.

The second half was a different story, but the damage was already done.

Coupeville had only seven second-half turnovers and created plenty of good looks at the offensive end but couldn’t get its shots to drop.

Part of the problem was the absence of the Wolves’ leading scorer (Mikayla Elfrank out with an injury) and No. 3 scorer (Sarah Wright, out of town).

BC only outscored Coupeville 10-8 in the third quarter and led 39-16 going into the final period.

Coupeville hit the first two hoops of the fourth quarter, then Bellevue Christian finished the game on a 16-3 run.

Coupeville coach David King substituted freely throughout the game — all 10 players appeared in at least two quarters — as he gave his young team a taste of tournament play.

Elfrank, Briscoe and Allison Wenzel are the only seniors on King’s club.

King said Coupeville’s shaky start was part nerves and part BC’s defense.

The Vikings extended their defense, which the Wolves’ weren’t expecting, and it took awhile for Coupeville to adjust, King said.

“We fought and worked hard,” King said.

“I thought Chelsea stepped up and played well, and Lindsey, especially in the second half, was tough — a lot of effort,” he added.

Roberts dominated the boards, grabbing 16 rebounds, and led Coupeville with 9 points.

Scout Smith and Prescott added 4 points, Ashlie Shank 3, Avalon Renninger 2 and Hannah Davidson 1.

Wenzel snared two steals, while Scout Smith and Maddy Hilkey each recorded two assists.

Six Vikings scored at least 5 points, led by Rylee Reese with 15.

Kyla Briscoe, left, tries to beat Bellevue Christian’s Catherine Dugoni off the dribble. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)

Avalon Renninger brings the ball up the floor for the Wolves Saturday. (Photo by John Fisken)

Coupeville’s Lindsey Roberts, left, blows by BC’s Catherine Dugoni. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)

Scout Smith launches a shot for Coupeville in Saturday’s district tournament game. (Photo by John Fisken)

Allison Wenzel, left, fends off the defense of the Vikings’ Molly VandenBrink. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)