Ranked Stanwood teams top Oak Harbor / Boys, girls basketball

The Stanwood High School basketball teams showed why they are among the state’s best, rolling by their Oak Harbor counterparts this week.

The Stanwood boys (4-0, 11-1) traveled to Oak Harbor for an 86-33 win Thursday, and the Spartan girls (4-0, 12-0) defeated the visiting Wildcats 58-21 Friday.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced its first-ever Rating Percentage Index this week, and the Stanwood boys were fifth and the girls second on the 3A lists.

After teams qualify for the state tournament, the RPI will be used for seeding.

Stanwood boys 86, Oak Harbor 33

The Spartans went on a 12-1 run at the end of the first quarter to go up 22-5 and never let up.

In fact, in an act of questionable sportsmanship, Stanwood used a full-court press the entire game and played their starters deep into the contest.

“I think over half their points came off of transition points from turnovers and off second chance points,” Oak Harbor coach John Weston said.

Later, statistics revealed the Spartans forced 31 turnovers that resulted in 45 points.

Stanwood outrebounded Oak Harbor 41-24 and scored 13 second-chance points.

The Spartans had five players score 9 or more points, led by AJ Martinka with 22.

Martinka scored 14 points in the second quarter as Stanwood led 48-16 at halftime. The score was 69-20 after three periods.

JJ Mitchell topped Oak Harbor with 11 points. Joe Arinaza, who played only the fourth quarter, sank a pair of three-balls and finished with 8 points, Weston Whitefoot had 5, Ty Baker 4, Kevin Schuldt 3, Ozell Jackson 2 and Gabe Salinger 1.

“I thought we worked hard and played with a lot of energy,” Weston said. “I also thought we did a fairly good job in our half court defense.”

Weston liked Mitchell’s effort and added, “Weston played well, too. He did a good job in our press breaker.”

Oak Harbor (0-4, 2-9) plays at Mountlake Terrace (2-1, 4-6) at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Stranwood girls 58, Oak Harbor 21

As good as the Spartan girls are, they will be better next year. They have only one senior on the roster and she didn’t score in the win over Oak Harbor.

Stanwood’s Ashley Alter scored 15 points in the first period and the Spartans led 23-6. Oak Harbor, behind 6 points each from Rashanna Graham and Bryn Langrock, outscored Stanwood 12-9 in the second quarter and trailed 32-18 at the break.

The Wildcats’ offense disappeared in the second half when Langrock’s three-pointer in the fourth period was their only basket.

Langrock and Graham were the only Oak Harbor players to score. Langrock had 12 points off four three-balls and Graham finished with 9.

Alter scored 23 for the Spartans.

Oak Harbor (0-4, 3-8) hosts Mount Vernon (3-7) in a non-league game at 7:15 Monday, Jan. 9.