The Port Townsend High School boys basketball team came to Coupeville with one win for the season and left with the Olympic League lead.
The Redhawks defeated the Wolves 59-45 and upped their conference mark to 2-0 for an early lead in the nine-game league schedule.
Coupeville fell to 1-1 in the Olympic League and 4-6 overall.
Port Townsend (2-7) jumped to several first-half leads, and each time the Wolves countered to get back in the game. The second half was a different story as the Redhawks pulled away with a fourth-quarter spurt.
Port Townsend started the game on an 8-1 run, then with the help of a three-point play by Hunter Smith, Coupeville cut the lead to two.
The Wolves were called for an intentional foul, followed by a technical foul, which allowed Port Townsend to complete a six-point possession for a 14-6 lead.
Coupeville came right back with the help of six consecutive PT turnovers. Gabe Wynn hit a three-ball and Jordan Ford went coast-to-coast after a steal and Coupeville led 15-14.
That would be the Wolves’ only lead.
The Redhawks went up 23-16 at the quarter (sinking 11 free throws in the period), and, again, Coupeville came back. This time slicing the gap to 24-23 before Port Townsend went into the locker room with a 34-27 advantage.
The Redhawks used a late surge to take a 44-33 lead into the final period.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Port Townsend went on an 11-4 run to go up by 18 and put the game away.
Free-throw shooting had an impact on the outcome. Port Townsend outscored Coupeville by nine points at the line as the Wolves hit only 10 of 23 tries.
Nine different Wolves scored in the game, topped by Wiley Hesselgrave with 11. Ford scored eight points, Ryan Griggs six, Wynn five, Smith four, Dante Mitchell four, J.J. Johnson four, Risen Johnson two and Deandre Mitchell one.
The Redhawks’ Detritus Kelsall led all scorers with 23 points, 12 coming from the foul line.
Coupeville and Port Townsend will meet two more times this season, Jan. 22 and Feb. 2.
Coupeville (1-1, 4-6) hosts Mount Vernon Christian (2-5) in a non-league game at 4 p..m. Saturday, Jan. 9.
