“We did a lot of things really well.”
Coming off their season opener Wednesday against visiting South Whidbey, the Coupeville Middle School girls’ basketball teams have players with a lot of potential and a willingness to put in the work.
That always gets a stamp of approval from the coaches.
While the Wolves “took lots of shots that unfortunately didn’t fall,” they did “open (up) the floor with good spacing and drove to the hoop,” said CMS coach Brooke Crowder.
Even with the day’s third game cancelled at the last moment, Crowder and fellow Wolf hardwood guru Kassie O’Neil got floor time for 27 Wolves on opening day, with 12 of the young guns recording their first points of the new campaign.
How things played out:
Level 1:
Coupeville hung tough with a high-powered South Whidbey squad but couldn’t overcome the wham-bam combo of 8th graders Jayda Coleman and Ellie Linaberry, who sparked the Cougars to a 42-29 win.
The duo combined to account for 38 of the visitor’s points, with Coleman rattling the rim for 28 by herself.
The Wolves were down just 15-9 at the first break and stayed within 19-14 at the half, before South Whidbey pulled away with a 14-8 run in the third quarter.
Coupeville’s balanced offensive attack was led by 7th grader Laurel Crowder, who banked in eight points, while Cami Van Dyke (5), Finley Helm (4), Emma Green (4), Kaleigha Millison (3), Claire Lachnit (3), and Aubrey Flowers (2) also scored.
Green, Millison, and Lachnit all hit paydirt from long distance, splashing home a three-ball apiece.
Zayne Roos, Anna Powers, Addison Jacobson, Ava Alford, and Annabelle Cundiff rounded out the rotation for the Wolves.

Halle Black made her CMS hardwood debut Wednesday, joining a long line of family members who have played hoops in Coupeville. (Photo courtesy Mandi Black)
Level 2:
Both teams brought the defensive heat with South Whidbey ultimately escaping with a 20-9 victory.
The Cougars led from start to finish, but the game was a close one, with the visitors up 8-3 through one quarter, 10-5 at the half, and 14-7 heading into the final frame.
Juniper Dotson, Nikolette Dunham, Millie Somes, and Daisy Leedy-Bonifas all knocked down a bucket for CMS, while Bella Sandlin netted a free throw to round out the scoring.
Also seeing action for the Wolves were Halle Black, Ellie Callahan, Danielle Halsing, Arianna Vinson, Leah Hernandez, Sophia Burley, Amira Anunciado, Ruby Folkestad, Reagan Green, and Sabrina Judnich.
What’s up next:
Coupeville hits the road for three straight, traveling to Granite Falls (Feb. 18), Sultan (Feb. 19), and Northshore Christian Academy (Nov. 24).
The Wolves finally return to the CMS gym Feb. 26, when they’ll square off with King’s.

















































