Lakewood run sinks Wildcats / Girls basketball

By Jim Waller • November 29, 2016 1:30 am

Lakewood’s Natalie Neer got hot and the Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team went cold as the Cougars defeated the host Wildcats 59-44 in the season opener for both schools Monday.

Neer swished four three-pointers during a 17-0 Lakewood run that bridged the third and fourth quarters and wiped out a 38-33 Oak Harbor lead.

It was a seesaw battle until the Cougars’ big surge.

Lakewood, behind two hoops by Jenna Langdon, went up 5-2, then Oak Harbor, with the help of 6 points by Bryn Langrock, bounced back to go ahead 12-9 at the quarter.

The Wildcats were in foul trouble early. Freshman Mikhaela Cortez picked up three fouls before the game was 90 seconds old and sat out the remainder of the half. Starting point guard Rashanna Graham missed the second half of the first quarter with two fouls.

Lakewood, however, didn’t take advantage at the foul line, hitting only two of nine first-period foul shots.

The Cougars started the second quarter on a 13-2 run with Neer doing most of the damage with eight points.

Down 22-14, Oak Harbor clawed back into the game. Julie Jansen scored seven points, including a three-pointer, to help the Wildcats take a 27-25 halftime lead.

Langrock started the second half with a three-ball, Delija Cammon and Cortez each hit hoops and Jansen scored twice off offensive rebounds to push Oak Harbor to a 38-33 advantage with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter.

Neer then drained a pair from beyond the arc to start the Lakewood 17-0 run and give the Cougars a 39-38 lead going into the final period.

Oak Harbor went over five minutes without scoring, partially because it had trouble navigating through the Cougars’ full-court press.

Langrock broke the Lakewood string with two free throws with 3:36 left in the contest to make it 50-40, but that is as close as the Wildcats would get the rest of the way.

Neer led all scorers with 26 points, including seven three-pointers. Langdon added 12 points and Emily Senyitko 11.

Langrock and Jansen led Oak Harbor with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Graham finished with 6, Cammon and Cortez 4 each and Aujani Frye and Lydia Wells two apiece.

Oak Harbor coach Jon Atkins said the game was a learning experience for his players, many playing at the varsity level for the first time.

“We need to figure out who wants to step up and play,” he said. “I’m glad to get it (the first game) out of the way, but we wanted to get out of here with a win against a good team from last year.”

One bright spot, Atkins said, was the effort of Graham, especially her aggressiveness at the offensive end.

“She attacked the hoop, something she didn’t do enough of last year.”

Oak Harbor (0-1) goes to Mountlake Terrace (0-0) at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, and then returns home to face Bellingham (0-0) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2.