Wolves use strong 2nd half to topple Tigers | Girls basketball

Second-half adjustments helped the Coupeville High School girls basketball team to a 39-33 win at Granite Falls Friday, Jan. 4.

Second-half adjustments helped the Coupeville High School girls basketball team to a 39-33 win at Granite Falls Friday, Jan. 4.

Coupeville, trailing 21-14 at the break, “heard loud and clear” the halftime message from coach David King. The Wolves made adjustments in attitude, effort and execution in the second half, King said, and the result was the Cascade Conference win.

Granite Falls (0-6, 1-11) looked to free-up its top scorer Emily Schneiders off multiple screens, and Schneiders responded by sinking 15 points in the first half. The Wolves shut her out in the second half.

King said the Tigers slowed the tempo and lured the Wolves into gambling on defense, leading to backdoor cuts and easy hoops.

The Tigers led 9-6 after the first period, Coupeville getting four of its points from Hailey Hammer.

King said the Wolves were getting good looks but couldn’t connect.

Coupeville was also hurt by turnovers, committing 24 on the night; Granite Falls had only eight.

Schneider scored 10 points in the second quarter to help the Tigers to their 21-14 halftime lead.

Bree Messner and Hammer scored four points each and Bessie Walstad two, and Coupeville cut the gap to 26-24 heading into the final frame.

The Wolves switched to a 3-2 zone and rebounded well in the fourth quarter, King said, as Coupeville wrestled control of the game.

Amanda Fabrizi and Makana Stone led the offensive comeback. Fabrizi hit two huge threes in the fourth. The first gave the Wolves their first lead, the second upped the margin to six.

Makana Stone scored nine of her 11 points in the quarter.

For the game, Stone also led the Wolves with five rebounds, six steals and two blocks.

Fabrizi finished with eight points, Hammer eight, Messner six and Walstad six.

Coupeville (3-3, 5-6) hosts King’s (4-2, 7-5) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8.