Once the Sedro-Woolley High School boys basketball team figured out it needed to move farther from the basket to score, it was in business.
The visiting Cubs defeated Oak Harbor 56-53 in a nonleague game Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Sedro-Woolley drilled 13 of 27 three-point shots (48 percent) while connecting on only six of 22 two-pointers (27 percent).
Oak Harbor tried to keep pace from long range, launching 25 but hitting only seven (28 percent). Drew Washington was 6-for-17 and led Oak Harbor in scoring with 21 points.
The Wildcats appeared to panic and got away from what helped keep them in the game early, getting the ball inside to big man Dayne Herron. Herron scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half.
The stats between the two teams were fairly even except in several columns. Along with the edge in three-point shooting, the Cubs received 14 points from its bench, Oak Harbor zero. All 14 came from Tristan Jette who hit four of eight three-pointers.
The Wildcats made only two of nine free throws while the Cubs hit five of eight.
Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington pointed to Oak Harbor’s lack of depth as one of the reasons for the loss as his troops tired at the end.
Oak Harbor went ahead 14-8 after the first quarter and led 19-8 before the Cubs got hot from beyond the arc. In less than two minutes, Sedro-Woolley hit three consecutive treys and added a two-pointer and it was tied at 19.
Sedro-Woolley took its first lead, 31-30, with 18 seconds left in the half, then Herron countered and Oak Harbor led at the break 32-31.
The Cubs started the second half by connecting on four three pointers and a 12-3 run, making it 43-35. They led 46-37 going into the fourth period.
A trio of threes from Drew Washington helped Oak Harbor get within two, 48-46, then the Cubs recovered to lead 55-48 with 2:42 left.
JoJo Webster hit a two and a three sandwiched around a Woolley free throw to make it 56-53 with 58 seconds left.
After a Cub miss, Oak Harbor had one more chance. Webster appeared to hit the tying three pointer, but a foul off the ball a split second before the shot wiped out the bucket, and Oak Harbor had the ball out of bounds with 1.8 seconds left. Webster’s three at the buzzer bounced off the front of the rim.
Sedro-Woolley was led by sophomore guards Jackson Price and Mason Elms with 18 and 17 points.
Webster had seven points, Chris Hailer four and Gabe Groeing two for Oak Harbor. Hailer added seven rebounds and Webster seven assists.
Oak Harbor (3-1, 7-4) now heads into a series of crossover games with the powerful Wesco 3A South, going to Mountlake Terrace (3-1, 8-2) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4.
