Playing perhaps its best game of the season, the Coupeville girls basketball team steamrolled host South Whidbey 51-38 Tuesday, Jan. 25.

Kendra O’Keefe swished a three-point shot with 1:47 left in the first period to break a 6-6 tie and give Coupeville a lead it would never relinquish. From there, the Wolves methodically pulled away.

The Wolves led 13-6 at the quarter, and behind Amanda Manker’s seven second-quarter points and four from Courtney Arnold, Coupeville led 27-16 at half.

Five points by O’Keefe and four from Katie Smith helped the Wolves bump the lead to 40-26 heading into the final frame.

The Wolves helped their cause by sinking 17 of 22 free throws.

Defensively, the Coupeville press frustrated the Falcons and led to turnovers and fast-break baskets. The “overall pressure” of the Wolves’ defense was the key to win, according to coach Jackie Bykonen.

At the offensive end, Bykonen said it was “nice to have Cassidi (Rosenkrance) back” to handle the pressure. The Coupeville point guard missed the previous two games with a shin injury.

Bykonen added Amanda Manker played hard and has decided to “play through adversity.” Manker has been hampered by a bad back and, according to Bykonen, has been concerned with a re-injury.

Bykonen said, “Courtney Arnold had her best game of the season.”

O’Keefe led the charge with 15 points, followed by Smith with 12, Arnold nine, Manker eight, Bessie Walstad three, Jai’Lysa Hoskins two and Rosenkrance two.

The win boosted Coupeville’s records to 2-8 and 3-12. The Falcons fell to 1-9, 1-13.

The Wolves play Cedar Park Christian at home Thursday, Jan. 27, at 4:15 p.m. in a nonleague game. The varsity boys will follow at 6.