“If the Wildcats’ boys basketball team believe in karma, then they should also believe that they will go on a five-game winning streak following their layoff for winter break. The frustrations for the Wildcats’ boys basketball team continued to mount Tuesday with their loss to Edmonds-Woodway, 72-58.We just have to keep focusing and not let the losses get to us, said Oak Harbor senior Chad Riepma. We can’t get discouraged about the losses.During the second quarter, Oak Harbor player Austin Fulgham slammed the basketball on the court and was called for a technical foul during a 17-3 run by the Warriors. The whistle came just moments after Fulgham was called for an offensive penalty. The run by Edmonds-Woodway was the most significant of the game as they took the lead for the first time and never relinquished it. Although the Wildcats battled back and managed to get back within three points during the third, Oak Harbor could not take charge during the fourth.The final eight minutes of the game were not the Wildcats’ worst, but the momentum factor never seemed to swing far enough into Oak Harbor’s direction for the team to get back into the game. Numerous times the Cats would score consecutively but then turn around and give up just as many points to the Warriors. Rejections by Oak Harbor players Josh Brown and Justin Chaytor pumped up the crowd but failed to give their team a chance to score. Fouls and turnovers were huge reasons for the lack of momentum for Oak Harbor. I think that we need to play harder defense and be more aggressive, said Brown about the lack of momentum. I think that we were tired and we got sloppy so we didn’t get as many assists.The game started off as if the Cats would destroy the Warriors, as they jumped out to a 13-2 lead. But the play of Warriors guard Brian Doty brought Edmonds-Woodway back. Doty scored seven of the Warriors’ next nine points to lead his team back to within three points to end the first quarter, 15-12. Doty led all scorers for the game as he poured in 23 points and had five three-pointers.We have to close out quicker, harder, better on the outside shooters, said the Wildcats assistant coach Rick Fulgham. It’s becoming a pattern. It seems like every team that has a three-point shooter is killing us in the third quarter, fourth quarter with consecutive three pointers.One big reason for the Cats success early in the game was the play of guard Tony Hall, who had five assists during the quarter. When you got momentum you can go far with it, said Riepma, who had 14 points for the game. And Tony is really good at that, he has done that for a long time, and he really stepped up during the first quarter.Hall’s success getting his teammates the ball underneath would not last long, though, and the Warriors soon shut him down. He just came off a week of having a horrible flu and what little he had left he used it in the first half, said the assistant coach. By the second half he was spent. It’s going to take him a game or two to get back.Brown led the Cats with 16 points.I just shoot the shots that I think I can make and when I get rebounds I just put them back up, said Brown. The majority of his scoring came during the first and third quarters, as the Warriors were able to shut Brown down at critical times.Once he starts scoring teams start doubling down on him, said Rick Fulgham. Teams look at the books and when they see that Brown had 30 points in a game, they are gunning for the guy. We just need for other people to step up too. One vital element to the Cats lineup that was noticeably absent from the Oak Harbor bench was head coach Frank Hunter.We are a little off kilter tonight, our head coach is a little under the weather, said Fulgham. Late in the game it’s tough because that’s when you miss that leadership. He is real good at keeping those guys pumped up when they have nothing left. Hunter, who left the team’s Dec. 15 game against Shorecrest, is expected to be back calling plays and pacing the sidelines Dec. 29 as the Wildcats will take on Squalicum at home. Edmonds-Woodway 72, Oak Harbor 58Edmonds-Woodway 12 21 20 19 – 72Oak Harbor 15 13 16 14 – 58Edmonds-Woodway: Doty 23, Davis 11, Hitchner 10, Heince 8, Thompson 6, Zitzman 5, Trew 4, Frainz 2, White-Frisbee 2, Grennan 1. Oak Harbor: Brown 16, Riepma 14, Hall 10, Fulgham 8, Denton 6, Bull 2, Chaytor 2. 3-point goals: Doty 5, Hitchner 1, Denton 1. JV: Edmonds-Woodway def. Oak Harbor. Records: Edmonds-Woodway 1-1 in league, 3-1 overall. Oak Harbor 0-4, 1-7. “