Coupeville girls fall at Concrete, one game back for playoffs

Coupeville High School's varsity girls' basketball team fell 50-32 at Concrete, leaving the Wolves a game behind Friday Harbor in the race for the fourth and final postseason slot among 2B teams. Scout Smith's squad entered the game at 1-5 in Northwest 2B/1B League play and 4-10 overall; after the loss the playoff picture projects Mount Vernon Christian (5-0, 12-2), La Conner (5-1, 10-5), Orcas Island (3-3, 7-8) and the Wolverines (2-4, 4-11) as the current qualifiers. Concrete (4-1, 12-3) and Darrington (0-6, 4-9), both 1B schools, are already guaranteed playoff invitations.

Concrete set the tone early, opening with a 14-4 first quarter and stretching the lead to 33-8 by halftime. Coupeville showed life after the break, outscoring the Lions 13-11 in the third quarter and 11-6 in the fourth, but the second-half surge came too late to erase the deficit. A win Tuesday would have helped, but Concrete, enjoying one of its best seasons in recent memory, proved to be too much.

Coach Scout Smith reflected on the challenge: “Concrete was tough competition,” Smith said. “They were active and aggressive on defense and could not miss on their shots. We tip our hats to them and put all focus on Orcas on Friday.”

Teagan Calkins and Tenley Stuurmans paced Coupeville with eight points each. Haylee Armstrong added four points, moving into a three-way tie with Mia Farris and Marlys West for 50th place on the Wolf girls’ career scoring chart with 247 points since the program launched in 1974. Danica Strong had three points, Lexis Drake three, Arianna Cunningham two, Sydney Van Dyke two and Capri Anter two.

The loss tightens an already narrow margin for Coupeville, which must now capitalize on its remaining slate to reach postseason play. Four regular-season games remain: matchups with Orcas Island, Mount Vernon Christian, La Conner and Friday Harbor will determine whether the Wolves can climb back into contention. Each game carries outsized importance for league standings, local school pride and postseason ticket demand.

For Island County fans who follow Coupeville basketball, the upcoming stretch provides a clear focal point: sustained offensive efficiency and cleaner defensive possessions will be essential if the Wolves hope to reclaim a playoff berth. Community support at the remaining games could also make a practical difference as Coupeville attempts to turn promise into postseason reality.