Wildcats begin postseason push with win / Boys basketball

Getting a much needed win in its hunt for a postseason berth, the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team defeated visiting Snohomish 50-42 Wednesday, Jan. 23.

The Wildcats moved past Snohomish in the District 1 3A rating percentage index this week, sliding up to 11th. The top 10 teams earn district tournament slots.

Oak Harbor (4-7, 6-11) goes to Everett (1-9, 2-14) to face the 14th-ranked Seagulls at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.

The Wildcats close out the regular season with two of Wesco’s top teams based on RPI, fourth-ranked Arlington (7-3, 11-5) and third-ranked Marysville Getchell (7-3, 9-7), next week.

Oak Harbor 50, Snohomish 42

The Wildcats used a stingy defense, sharp passing and clutch free-throw shooting to take down the Panthers (2-9, 5-12).

Matt Kelley scored 6 points and Dorian Hardin and Gavin Allen had 5 each as Oak Harbor finished the first quarter with an 18-12 lead. All of Kelley’s hoops came off nice feeds thanks to sharp passes from Hardin, Kevin Schuldt and Allen.

Schuldt closed out the half with a hoop after a slick pass from Hardin, and the Wildcats led 25-18 at the break.

After leading by as much as 8 points in the first half, Oak Harbor saw the advantage disappear in the third quarter.

Snohomish started the second half on a 9-2 run and tied the game at 27 with 4:33 left in the third period. Up to that point, the Wildcats’ only points in the quarter were a pair of free throws by Allen after a technical fall was called on the Panther coach Jim Wilson.

After Snohomish tied the game, Evan Nadeau hit back-to-back buckets on assists from Hardin and Andrew Baloy, and Oak Harbor led 31-29 going into the fourth period.

Terrell Crumpton opened the final quarter with a three-pointer and then added another hoop on an assist from Hardin, and Oak Harbor led 36-29.

Hardin scored off an assist from Allen and Brown added another bucket, and the Wildcats led 40-31 with 3:24 left.

Oak Harbor then when 10-for-12 from the foul line to cement the win.

“I though we played really well, especially on defense,” Oak Harbor coach John Weston said. “We took three charges and were diving for loose balls.

“Dorian and Haven took turns shutting down (Kolton) Smith.”

Smith, Snohomish’s biggest scoring threat, finished with only 7 points.

“I liked our ability to weather the storm and hit free throws in the clutch,” he added.

Weston also liked the balance on offense. Kelley and Allen finished with 10 points, Hardin 9 and Brown 8.

Crumpton added 5, Nadeau 4, Baloy 2 and Schuldt 2.

Grady Kentch led Snohomish with 15.

Haven Brown flies to the hoop for Oak Harbor.(Photo by John Fisken)

Haven Brown flies to the hoop for Oak Harbor. (Photo by John Fisken)

Gavin Allen sinks a pair of free throws after the Snohomish bench receives a technical foul. (Photo by John Fisken)

Gavin Allen sinks a pair of free throws after the Snohomish bench receives a technical foul. (Photo by John Fisken)

Dorian Hardin splits the defense of Snohomish’s Jacob Brandvoid and Tayte Conover (30).(Photo by John Fisken)

Dorian Hardin splits the defense of Snohomish’s Jacob Brandvoid and Tayte Conover (30). (Photo by John Fisken)

Matt Kelley, left, challenges Snohomish’s Grady Kentch.(Photo by John Fisken)

Matt Kelley, left, challenges Snohomish’s Grady Kentch. (Photo by John Fisken)

Evan Nadeau scores one of his back-to-back buckets in the third quarter.(Photo by John Fisken)

Evan Nadeau scores one of his back-to-back buckets in the third quarter. (Photo by John Fisken)

Kevin Schuldt rips down a rebound for the Wildcats.(Photo by John Fisken)

Kevin Schuldt rips down a rebound for the Wildcats. (Photo by John Fisken)

Rylee Simmons, left, slips the ball past Snohomish’s Kolton Smith.(Photo by John Fisken)

Rylee Simmons, left, slips the ball past Snohomish’s Kolton Smith. (Photo by John Fisken)