Cats back on track

Using a well-balanced attack, the Oak Harbor girls basketball team cruised to a 60-40 victory over North Kitsap on Saturday night.

Defensively, the Cats came into the game wanting to apply pressure to the Vikings and they did.

“Our goal coming into the game was to force 20 turnovers and we ended up with 24,” head coach Brett McLeod said.

Due to hot shooting from the outside, North Kitsap was forced to play a man-to-man defense, which opened up big opportunities for 6-foot-3-inch center Heidi McNeill.

McNeill broke loose on the Vikings for 27 points and 16 rebounds. Senior Felicia Hill also had a nice game, putting in 12 points for the Cats.

With the victory Oak Harbor moved to 2-1 on the season.

“I like our chemistry right now a lot,” McLeod said.

The Cats begin league play on the road this Friday, Dec. 12 at Stanwood.

“This will be important for us to get off to a good start in league,” McLeod said.

North Kitsap 7 7 14 12—40

Oak Harbor 12 17 17 20—60

OH: McNeill 27, Hill 12, White 9, Watts 6, Bratt 4, Smollack 2.

NK: Sprague 7, McCluskey 7, Swanlund 5, Kramer 5, Case 2, Reed 3, Hall 3, Stout 3, Stice 2.

Oak Harbor 65, Anacortes 59

Oak Harbor picked up their first win of the season Friday night in a 65-59 home victory over Anacortes.

With the game tied 45-45 at the end of the third quarter the Wildcats used a swarming defense, including a couple of key steals by senior Jenny White to take over the fourth quarter.

Junior Amanda Watts and Hill led the Cats in scoring with 18 apiece.

Anacortes 10 15 20 14—59

Oak Harbor 11 17 17 20—65

OH: Watts 18, Hill 18, McNeill 16, Smollack 6, Bratt 5, White 2.

A: Wenke 19, Kilburn 14, Kirkpatrick 8, Reynolds 8, Watterson 4, Bower 2, Brown 2, Saunders 2.

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