The Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team couldn’t cash in on its opportunities and missed a chance to upset visiting Stanwood in a 65-55 loss Wednesday, Jan. 16.

The Spartans remained in second place in the Western Conference with the win, lifting their league record to 7-2 (11-3 overall). The Wildcats fell to 2-6 (4-10).

Oak Harbor was able to get to the rim against Stanwood, but time and again the Wildcats failed to get their shots to fall.

The Spartans used a spurt at the end of the first three quarters to stay on top.

The Wildcats led 10-7 in the opening period, then Stanwood closed out the frame on a 9-1 run to go up 16-11. Mitch Jones scored 9 points and Cort Roberson 7 to pace the Spartans. Matt Kelley dropped in 6 for Oak Harbor.

The Wildcats got to within 1, 20-19, in the second period before Stanwood took a 30-24 lead into the locker room.

The Spartan lead reached 8 in the third quarter, 36-28, then Oak Harbor sliced the gap to three, 40-37, and 41-38, but would get no closer; Stanwood led 44-38 going into the final frame.

The Spartans opened a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter and then used free throws over the final four minutes to hold off Oak Harbor. Jones, who got Stanwood off to a good start in the first quarter, was tough again in the fourth, scoring 9 points. Dorian Hardin scored 8 points in the period as the Wildcats tried to come back.

Both teams went to the foul line often. The Wildcats finished the game 18-for-24; Stanwood was 16-for-27.

Oak Harbor ran into early foul trouble and had three starters sit part of the opening half with two fouls. Hardin missed almost an entire period.

For the game, Jones topped Stanwood with 22 points.

Hardin scored 14, Haven Brown 12, Kelley 11, Kevin Schuldt 8, Ta’Shaun Howard 3, Gavin Allen 3, Terrell Crumpton 2 and Evan Nadeau 2.

“I thought we controlled the tempo,” Oak Harbor coach John Weston said. “We had good shot selection, we just couldn’t get the ball in the hole.

“We gave ourselves an opportunity to win.”

The Wildcats now head to Marysville-Pilchuck (9-0, 12-3) to face the league-leading and eighth-ranked Tomahawks at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18.

Oak Harbor’s Gavin Allen scraps with Stanwood’s Jack Oldow (20) for a loose ball. (Photo by John Fisken)

The Oak Harbor bench celebrates a nice play by their teammates on the court. (Photo by John Fisken)

Haven Brown focuses on hitting a free throw. (Photo by John Fisken)

Terrell Crumpton attack the hoop for Oak Harbor. (Photo by John Fisken)

Kevin Schuldt gathers to go to the hoop. (Photo by John Fisken)

Dorian Hardin is fouled on the way to the hoop. (Photo by John Fisken)