Ouch. This one hurt.
The Coupeville High School boys basketball team saw an 11-point lead evaporate as visiting Sultan stunned the Wolves 57-52 Friday, Jan. 10.
The Turks (1-3, 2-10) outscored Coupeville 18-4 in the fourth period, including finishing the game on an 8-0 run, to collect their first North Sound Conference win. Coupeville fell to 1-1 in league play and 4-6 overall.
The Wolves can point to a lot of plays that went awry in the loss, but the biggest issue was the foul line. Coupeville sank only eight of 23 free throws in the game, including missing four straight in the final 2:22 that allowed the Turks to mount their final flurry.
The first quarter was close, and Sultan led 14-12 going into the second period.
Sean Toomey-Stout scored 8 points in the second quarter as the Wolves took a 32-27 lead into halftime.
Hawthorne Wolfe started the second half with a three-pointer, spurring Coupeville to a 42-31 lead with 3:42 left in the period. The Wolves built the 11-point advantage despite missing five free throws during the spurt.
Wolfe attacked the rim for 6 more points in the period and Coupeville led by 9, 48-39, heading into the fourth quarter.
An 8-2 run allowed Sultan to cut the lead to 50-47 with four minutes remaining. Xavier Murdy sank two free throws, making it 52-47. The Wolves would not score again.
Wolfe finished with 14 points. Toomey-Stout had 12, Ulrik Wells 6, Mason Grove 5, Jacobi Pilgrim 5, Gavin Knoblich 5, Koa Davison 3 and Murdy 2.
Austin Wood tallied 17 for the Turks.
Mason Grove puts up a free throw for the Wolves. (Photo by John Fisken)
Sean Toomey-Stout floats to the hoop. (Photo by John Fisken)
Hawthorne Wolfe passes the ball on a fast break. (Photo by John Fisken)
