Warriors whip Wildcats / Boys basketball

By Jim Waller • January 19, 2017 1:30 am

The Edmonds-Woodway High School boys basketball team scored 56 points in the middle two periods on the way to an 83-36 romp at Oak Harbor Tuesday, Jan 17.

With the victory, the Warriors (6-1, 12-3) moved into second place in the Western Conference standings. Oak Harbor (0-7, 2-12) is still looking for its first league win.

The Wildcats were once again plagued by the two areas that have haunted them all season — turnovers and the inability to put the ball in the hoop.

After the game, Oak Harbor coach John Weston noted that although his club just gave up 83 points, it played good half-court defense. Turnovers, however, allowed Edmonds-Woodway to score easy baskets in transition.

The Wildcats turned the ball over 21 times, resulting in 27 points. The turnovers also limited the number of scoring opportunities for Oak Harbor. That, coupled with a low shooting percentage on what chances they did have, crippled the ‘Cats.

E-W put up 19 more shots than Oak Harbor and outshot the Wildcats 50 percent to 32 percent. The Warriors also drained a whopping 14 three-pointers in 31 attempts.

Weston said that his team, though winless in Wesco play, ranks near the top of the league in fewest points allowed per game. His club plays good defense but has been hammered by poor offensive execution.

The Warriors led the entire game, racing to a 19-7 first-quarter lead. E-W then tallied 26 points in the second period to go up 45-21 and added 30 more in the third quarter to lead 75-30.

Edmonds-Woodway used a full-court press for the first three quarters. It emptied its bench midway through the third quarter but re-inserted its starters at the beginning of the fourth quarter and allowed them to play the first half of the final period.

All 11 players on Oak Harbor’s roster scored, but none had more than the 5 points of Joe Arinaza, Gavin Allen and Kevin Schuldt. Haven Brown and Ozell Jackson each scored 4; Weston Whitefoot had 3; and Justin Ellison, Gabe Salinger, Ty Baker, Adam Nelson and JJ Mitchell each collected 2.

Whitefoot grabbed six rebounds and Ellison had three assists.

Nine Warriors scored, led by Keaton McKay with 21. Ryan Peterson snared 14 rebounds and Jalen Nash recorded six assists.

Oak Harbor heads to Arlington (5-1, 8-6) for a 7:15 p.m. game Friday, Jan. 20.