Granite falls to Coupeville

Domination on the boards and the team's highest point total since the second game of the season helps Wolves beat Granite Falls

“After traveling to Granite Falls earlier this season and winning by just five points, the rematch was not a given for the Coupeville boys basketball team. But domination on the boards and the team’s highest point total since the second game of the season helped as the Wolves methodically took apart Granite Falls, 65-51. Everything is starting to jell, said senior Noah Roehl. Everything is starting to come together and just look good.The only big run of the game for Coupeville came during the opening minutes of the first quarter as the Wolves went on a 13-0 run. But Coupeville never scored more than six consecutive points for the rest of the contest. The second and third quarters went back and forth, but the Wolves managed to pull down more rebounds and average almost three shots for every two that their opponents took as the Wolves outscored Granite Falls 36-23. Junior Chris Good had a monstrous block during the second quarter and asserted his dominance on the boards during the entire game as he finished with 10 rebounds, despite sitting on the bench for the duration of the third and half of the fourth quarter.The last few games we have been blocking out and I can just sky and get the boards, said Good.The Wolves jumped out to their biggest lead of the game with their first shot of the fourth, 53-31. But their opponents would not give up. With Coupeville’s two highest scorers on the bench – senior Pat Bennett, who had 12 points, and Good, with 18 – Granite Falls (6-7) pulled back within 10 points of the Wolves. I didn’t really realize until we called a timeout and I looked at the scoreboard, said Good. We can’t be having that if we are going to districts. All kinds of things help, said Roehl. When you win close games down the stretch, OT games, they really build your confidence and it teaches you how to win. In the clutch games you have to have that.According to Coupeville coach Randy King, his players are starting to understand the game better and helping each other. We tried to force some stuff tonight that we shouldn’t have, said King. But it’s kind of neat that everyone notices that. I’ve got seven assistant coaches on the bench who are telling guys to get control and be patient. With just four minutes remaining during the game, King put Good back on the court and the idea of a comeback for Granite Falls was put to rest.Almost everybody got into the action for Coupeville as 11 of the team’s 12 players scored. We try to define roles for kids but we never tell anybody they can’t shoot, said King. One of the reasons we run a motion offense is to give all of the kids a chance to make decision with the ball and be basketball players.A key for the Wolves to be successful, according to King, is to get as many rebounds as possible. One key player for Coupeville was Sean Callahan, who was the second highest rebounder for the Wolves as he pulled down eight boards. Sean has been having a great year and I have a lot of confidence in him, said King. He plays super defense, strong inside and he’s done a super job for us.Coupeville takes on the league-leading Darrington Loggers (5-0, 10-2) Friday at home. The Wolves, who are 2-3 in league play, lost to the Loggers by 17 earlier this season in Darrington. This time the game will be different as the Wolves have senior starters Ty Blouin and Bennett back in their lineup. We like to play at home, but we are just getting better, said King about the win over Granite Falls. We just need more of the same. Maybe a little more penetration and short jump shots. Coupeville 65, Granite Falls 51Granite Falls 8 14 9 20 – 51Coupeville 15 21 15 14 – 65Granite Falls: Stimpple 2, Antonio 3, Krom 16, Ingraham 5, Emery 11, Haulaman 7, Garcia 7. Coupeville: Blouin 6, Sherman 5, Helm 4, R. Blouin 2, Roehl 4, Harada 2, Bennett 12, Hageman 4, Callahan 5, Kelley 3, Good 18. 3-point goals: Krum 1, Sherman 1, T. Blouin 1, . JV score: Coupeville 64, Granite Falls 57. Records: Granite Falls 5-7 overall. Coupeville 6-7. “