By Declan O’Malley

Sounder contributor

Things could not have started better for the Orcas Island High School boys basketball team. The Vikings opened the season undefeated at 3-0, marking their best start in five years.

In their first game of the season on Dec. 6, the “Big Blue” defeated Granite Falls High School on the road, 50-45. The Vikings followed that win with a double-digit victory over Bush School on Dec. 10, with Joe Stephens leading Orcas Island with 24 points.

“Each game we are growing, adding layers to our system. Players are systematically adding depth to their roles, and as a team we are starting to have pre-set adjustments for when the opposition adjusts to us, so we can be one step ahead. Most importantly, the brotherhood among these guys has us having a lot of fun together,” said OIHS coach Corey Wiscomb.

After two straight road games, Orcas Island returned home to host Coupeville High School on Dec. 12, earning a 63-56 win. Stephens again led the Vikings in scoring with 21 points.

“Both the coaches and players felt really proud to bring that energy and excitement to our town for the season opener,” Wiscomb said. “Coupeville is one of the stronger teams in our league, so it’s a great start to our season. We see the mistakes we are making and know what to fix. It’s a great situation – we are on a nice run of wins and keep getting better. We will surely be tested as the season progresses, but we are optimistic this group of young men can and will rise to the challenge.”