Wildcats lose battle of the boards against GP | Boys basketball

The Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team ended a brutal run of four games in five days with a 61-49 loss at home to Glacier Peak Monday, Jan. 30.

The Wildcats (6-9, 6-13) wrap up Wesco play Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Marysville Getchell (1-13, 1-17) at 7:15 p.m.

Regardless of the outcome, Oak Harbor will finish fifth in the conference and begins district play Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the home of the second-place team. Shorecrest (12-2, 13-5) is currently in second, but Shorewood (11-3, 14-4) and Glacier Peak (11-4, 14-5) also have a shot at the spot.

District will include the top six Wesco 3A schools and the two Northwest Conference 3A teams with the best records. Mount Vernon (6-4, 7-10), Ferndale (5-5, 13-5) and Sedro-Woolley (5-6, 8-10) are in the hunt for the two NWC berths.

It was too much Zach Pederson in the loss to Glacier Peak.

The 6-6 junior collected 25 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two blocks for the Grizzlies.

Both teams shot similar percentages (Oak Harbor 20-for-51, 39.2 percent; Glacier Peak 23-for-58, 39.7 percent) and had similar turnover totals (Oak Harbor 14, Glacier Peak 13), but the Grizzlies dominated the boards with a whopping 46-25 edge, including 20 offensive boards to Oak Harbor's six.

That help GP to a 14-4 advantage in second-chance points.

Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington Sr. started his five seniors (Kevawn Brooks, Matt Burgoyne, Paul Johannsen, Mike Washington Jr. and Elias Whitefoot) in their final home game and the quintet jumped to a 6-2 lead. However, Glacier Peak finished the quarter on a 14-4 run to go up 16-10.

Behind Pederson, who had 14 first-half points, the Grizzlies led 31-20 at the break.

Glacier Peak scored the first nine points of the second half and was never threatened.

The lead reached 20 before Oak Harbor, behind JoJo Webster's eight points, made a rush at the end.

Webster ended with 16 points, Washington Jr. 13, Burgoyne 11, Brooks four, Drew Washington three and Johannsen two.

Burgoyne added eight rebounds and Brooks four blocks.

 

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

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.