If the old adage “defense wins championships” holds true, the Coupeville High School girls basketball team should be in the running for its fourth consecutive Olympic League championship.
Behind another stellar defensive effort, the Wolves defeated visiting Klahowya 28-17 Tuesday, Jan. 16, to keep pace in the tightly bunched conference race.
Coupeville (3-2, 5-11) is tied with Port Townsend (3-2, 5-9) and Chimacum (3-2, 6-8) for the Olympic League lead. Klahowya (1-3, 3-11) rounds out the standings.
Defense is a key for the Wolves, who are not an offensive juggernaut. Coupeville has a season high 47 points and has scored less than 30 in seven games.
“Our defense has really stepped up as the season has progressed,” Coupeville coach David King said after Tuesday’s win. “That’s what’s keeping us in games and allowing us to get wins in these low scoring games.”
The Wolves finish the second of three rounds of league games when they go to Chimacum at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19.
Coupeville 28, Klahowya 17
The Wolves dominated the beginning of the game but had little to show for it as their shots wouldn’t drop. Coupeville led 4-2 after the first period.
The Eagles tallied the first bucket on the second quarter, then the Wolves finished the half on an 11-0 run to go into the locker room with a 15-4 lead.
Coupeville scored 7 points in less than two minutes to fuel the second-period surge. Scout Smith hit two free throws; Ema Smith added another, then she scored on a nice pass from Lindsey Roberts; Scout Smith connected on a hoop; and suddenly the Wolves led 11-4.
Defense dominated the third quarter, and Coupeville led 20-8 going into the fourth.
Several turnovers and missed free throws by Coupeville helped the Eagles cut the lead to 9, but a timely bucket by Kyla Briscoe turned the tide back to the Wolves.
“Overall, a good league win, and the effort was there on the defensive end and attacking the boards,” King said.
Roberts just missed a double-double, scoring 9 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Sarah Wright had 2 points and eight rebounds; and Briscoe finished with 4 points, five rebounds and three steals.
Ema Smith added 7 points, Scout Smith 4 and Hannah Davidson 2.
Lindsey Roberts tallies for Coupeville on a fast break. (Photo by John Fisken)
Coupeville’s Kyla Briscoe beats Klahowya’s Karli Eberhard off the dribble. (Photo by John Fisken)
Coupeville’s Scout Smith wrestles the ball away from Karli Eberhart. (Photo by John Fisken)
