Oak Harbor can’t mount second comeback in loss to Chargers / Boys basketball

Published 1:30 am Thursday, January 26, 2017

One comeback wasn’t enough as the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team lost 58-53 at Marysville Getchell Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The Wildcats (0-9, 2-14), still searching for their first conference win of the season, host Everett (4-5, 9-8) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27.

Oak Harbor got off to a strong start at Marysville Getchell, jumping to a 9-4 lead. The Chargers scored the final 5 points of the quarter and then scored the first 3 of the second period to go up 12-9.

Later in the quarter, Marysville Getchell (2-6, 3-13) went on a 15-5 run to take a 27-17 lead and led 27-19 at the half.

The Wildcats came roaring back in the third quarter to go up 36-34 but could not answer the Chargers’ next surge.

Marysville Getchell steadily pulled away, building a 9-point lead, 55-46, deep into the fourth period.

The Wildcats won the turnover battle 24-15 but couldn’t turn the extra opportunities into points. Oak Harbor earned 16 more field goal attempts than the Chargers but were outshot 38 percent to 31. As a result, Getchell scored 15 points off mistakes to the Wildcats’ 12.

Poor shooting also hurt Oak Harbor in second chance points. The Wildcats had seven more offensive rebounds than the Chargers, 21-14, but were outscored 16-7 off those boards.

Oak Harbor also hit only 50 percent of its free throws (15-for-30).

JJ Mitchell scored 12 points for Oak Harbor; Haven Brown added 10, Weston Whitefoot 7, Adam Nelson 7, Ozell Jackson 6, Gavin Allen 4, Gabe Salinger 2, Ty Baker 2, Kevin Schuldt 2 and Justin Ellison 1.

Jackson grabbed seven rebounds, Allen recorded three assists and Brown had five steals.

Charles Tait, who hit all eight of his shots, including three three-pointers, led the Chargers with 13 points.

“We sure battled, they just made a couple more good plays than we did,” Oak Harbor coach John Weston said.

“We did pretty well, started the game with some good energy (and) kept it competitive throughout,” he added. “We pressed a lot and that definitely pushed the pace of the game and allowed for some easy buckets.

“I was pleased with our defensive performance, especially in the full court; everyone was able to contribute on that side of the ball.”

Jackson had his “best game of the season,” according to Weston. “He was dominating the paint. Unfortunately, he got in early foul trouble and had to sit the entire second quarter.”