The first three minutes set the tone as the South Whidbey High School boys basketball team rolled by rival Coupeville 64-50 Friday, Jan. 17, in Langley.
The Falcons ball-hawking defense forced four early turnovers, propelling South Whidbey to a 14-0 lead before the Wolves took their second shot.
Dexter Jokinen and Sterling Patton started the game with back-to-back three-pointers, and then Carson Wrightson scored the final 8 points of the opening run; the last four points on a pair of backboard-rattling dunks.
Jokinen and Patton finished the quarter with two three-balls each, Wrightson tallied 10 points and South Whidbey was up 23-11.
The first quarter set the stage for a monster game by the 6-7 Wrightson, who dominated the key for 23 points, 20 rebounds and a handful of blocked shots.
He and Patton combined for all of the Falcons’ 15 second-quarter points, and South Whidbey to a 38-18 lead into the break.
Behind 7 more points by Patton, the Falcons built their biggest lead, 48-20, midway through the third quarter and cruised to the finish.
The Wolves never seriously threatened, getting no closer than 12 points late in the game.
Patton, like Wrightson, scored 23 points. The 6-6 wing drained five three-pointers, rebounded well and helped Wrightson ignite the Falcons’ fast-break game by out-letting to Jacob Ng, Nick Young and Jokinen to keep the Wolves on the run.
Jokinen had 8 points, Ng 5, Young 2, Cody Eager 2 and Luke Rookstool 1.
The Falcons played without Levi Buck, who was sick.
Mason Grove hit seven three-pointers and scored 23 points for Coupeville.
South Whidbey coach Greg Turcott said his club was “really excited” at the beginning, which resulted in to superb start.
He praised Coupeville for showing “a lot of heart” in its effort to comeback.
South Whidbey remained in second place in the North Sound Conference with the win, raising its league record to 3-1 and its season mark to 11-3. Coupeville fell to 1-2 and 4-7.
The Falcons host Sultan (2-3, 4-10) at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Dexter Jokinen (3) defends Coupeville’s Jean Lund Olsen. (Photo by John Fisken)
Kole Nelson, left, battles Coupeville’s Xavier Murdy for a rebound. (Photo by John Fisken)
Jacob Ng puts up a shot for the Falcons. (Photo by John Fisken)
Sterling Patton muscles a rebound in front of Coupeville’s Gavin Knoblich (22). (Photo by John Fisken)
Luke Rookstool looks to pass for South Whidbey. (Photo by John Fisken)
Carson Wrightson powers to the hoop for 2 points. (Photo by John Fisken)
Nick Young, right, shoots a fade-away jumper over Gavin Knoblich. (Photo by John Fisken)
