Turnovers proved to be the difference in Oak Harbor’s 75-62 loss at Lynnwood in the Wildcat boys basketball conference opener Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The Wildcats trailed by only two, 34-32 at halftime, but started the third quarter with three straight mistakes, all resulting in Royal points. By the end of the period, Lynnwood held a 55-41 lead.

Throughout the game, Wildcat miscues led to “quite a few transition buckets for Lynnwood, which gave them a spark,” Oak Harbor coach John Weston said.

Despite 18 turnovers, Oak Harbor scored a season-high 62 points.

In addition to the mistakes, defense continues to be an issue for the Wildcats.

“We need to take a lot more pride in getting stops,” Weston said. “Right now we are giving up 70 points per game; that has to stop.”

Overall, the Wildcats “played a lot more competitively” and played a more “complete game,” Weston said.

Oak Harbor went up 18-14 in the first quarter by “playing solid defense and getting the ball to the hoop,” Weston said.

“Our shot selection was much better tonight, which shows on the score board,” he added.

Dorian Hardin “took care of the ball a lot more in the second half,” according to Weston, and scored a game-high 19 points.

“Kevin Schuldt had his best game of the season and really played loose,” Weston said. “That was huge for us.”

Schuldt, Gabe Salinger and Weston Whitefoot each scored 8 points; Haven Brown had 7; Ozell Jackson 6; Gavin Allen 4; and Terrell Crumpton 2.

“Jackson was great on the boards,” Weston said, but injured an ankle in the third quarter and did not return.

Jerry Boston scored 18 points for Lynnwood (1-1, 4-2), one more than Jayden Acosta-Newsome and Timmy Taing.

Oak Harbor (0-1, 0-5) hosts Snohomish (1-0, 2-2) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15.