Girls basketball: Mavericks race by Oak Harbor

Basketball fans coming to the Oak Harbor-Meadowdale girls game Wednesday, Jan. 5, were treated to a track meet in the Mavericks' 58-33 win on the Wildcats' court.

Meadowdale's constant full-court press and trapping half-court defense picked up the tempo and resulted in a rat race of turnovers and transition baskets.

Both teams had trouble taking care of the ball (Oak Harbor had 26 turnovers and Meadowdale 22), but the Mavericks turned many of the Oak Harbor miscues into easy fast break lay-ups while the Wildcats couldn't get the lid off the basket.

When Oak Harbor broke through the Maverick pressure and trap defenses, it found itself with good looks but couldn't convert, shooting a miserable 19 percent (13-for-68) from the field. The Wildcats also collected numerous offensive rebounds but its many put-backs rimmed out.

Oak Harbor wasn't only cold from the field as it sank just five of 23 free throws (21.7 percent).

With the help of eight Emily Renninger points, Oak Harbor was down just three, 13-10, after the first quarter.

The Mavericks were up 27-17 at the half.

Oak Harbor missed nine consecutive free throws in the third quarter as Meadowdale upped its lead to 41-24.

Meadowdale (4-1, 6-4) held on to second place in Wesco 3A with the win; Oak Harbor fell to 0-5, 1-9.

Renninger ended with 10 points, Clarissa Abadesco had eight, Ciera Wiser five, Janelle Yoshimoto three, Jalanie Bobo two, Annie Leete two, Dominique Jackson two and Tatiana Cumming one.

Oak Harbor coach Trisha Clayville said, "We never stopped playing hard, we just didn't play well. We have some things to fix."

Oak Harbor hosts Shorecrest (3-2, 4-7) Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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