Cubs run by South Whidbey / Girls basketball

By Jim Waller • December 6, 2018 1:30 am

As the game progressed, the South Whidbey High School girls basketball team improved its play, but the Falcons couldn’t overcome a shaky beginning and lost to visiting Sedro-Woolley 49-20 Wednesday, Dec. 5.

The Cubs, taking advantage of Falcon mistakes, scooted to leads of 10-0 and 18-1 before finishing the first period with an 18-3 advantage.

Sedro-Woolley received 7 points from Anna Rutherford and 6 from Maren Mihelich to build the big first-quarter lead.

South Whidbey’s Emma Hodson hit a free throw midway through the period, but the Falcons didn’t get a field goal until Adrianna Briggs connected in the final seconds of the quarter.

The Cubs’ full-court press continued to produce dividends in the second period as they held South Whidbey to a bucket by Hodson while scoring 10 points for a 28-5 halftime advantage.

South Whidbey’s offense picked up in the second half.

Ella Wood and Farris Jokinen each knocked down three-pointers, and Wood added another field goal as the Falcons produced 8 points and trailed 42-13 after three quarters.

Briggs hit a pair of hoops as South Whidbey tallied 7 points in the final quarter.

Turnovers were the story of the game. The Falcons’ many mistakes gave Sedro-Woolley plenty of scoring opportunities while limiting their own.

After using a full-court press the first half, the Cubs switched to a half-court trap after the break.

South Whidbey coach Jeff Hanson said his young club is still going through growing pains.

“We have girls playing different position — positions they haven’t played in their entire lives,” he said. “It’s going to take more than three games to get them comfortable.”

“We got better as the game went along,” he added.

Wood led South Whidbey with 7 points. Briggs finished with 6, Jokinen 3, Hodson 3 and Laura Starets-Foote 1.

Sedro-Woolley, which remained unbeaten in four games, was led by Rutherford with 17 points.

South Whidbey (0-3) will travel to Oak Harbor (1-2) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, and to Bush (3-0) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, before hosting Coupeville (1-3) in the league opener at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12.