Murphy’s pressure bothers Wolves | Boys basketball

Archbishop Murphy's full-court press helped the Wildcats pick up points in transition in a 78-50 win over the host Coupeville High School boys basketball team Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Archbishop Murphy’s full-court press helped the Wildcats pick up points in transition in a 78-50 win over the host Coupeville High School boys basketball team Tuesday, Feb. 4.

The Wolves (1-12, 3-16) finish the 2013-14 season at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at Granite Falls (5-7, 8-10).

Archbishop Murphy, which started two freshmen and two sophomores, used a press to force six Coupeville turnovers in the first period. Chase White led the way for Murphy, scoring 11 points, and the Wildcats went up 19-11.

White added eight points in the second quarter and Murphy led at halftime 40-25.

The Wolves had seven players score in the first half, getting seven points from Anthony Bergeron and six from  Wiley Hesselgrave, but couldn’t keep pace with the Wildcats.

In the third quarter, Coupeville held White in check, but seven other Murphy players scored and the Wildcats pushed their lead to 62-38.

White, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter, finished with 21 points. Eleven different Wildcat scored in the game.

Hesselgrave paced Coupeville with 16 points, Bergeron had 11, Joel Walstad eight, Nick Streubel six, Aaron Trumbull three, Gavin O’Keefe three and Matt Shank three.

“We played tough, but we have moments where we check out,” coach Anthony Smith said.

“We had 24 turnovers,” he added. “A good basketball team like that is going to expose you and take advantage.”

Coupeville, playing its final home game of the season, honored seniors Bergeron, Streubel, O’Keefe and Morgan Payne before the game.

The seniors are among the core group players Smith has coached in his three years at the helm.

“It will be tough to see these guys go,” Smith said. “It is going to be tough to replace them. Not only do you develop relationships on the court but you develop them off the court as well.”