After a strong first quarter and a decent first half, the Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team couldn’t connect after halftime and lost 70-26 to visiting Everett Wednesday, Jan. 29.

After the break, Oak Harbor didn’t hit a field goal until the final minute of the game and Everett (6-4, 10-7) jumped into a tie for first in the Wesco 3A North.

The Wildcats survived a 13-0 Everett run in the first quarter and trailed by only six, 16-10, heading into the second period.

Coach Jon Atkins said, “We responded well to their first run; it’s the second runs we have had problems with.”

The Seagulls erupted for 25 second-quarter points and led 41-22 at the half.

Joanna Leete drilled five three-pointers and scored 16 of the Wildcats’ 22 first-half points.

She, and everyone else, went cold in the second half.

Oak Harbor failed to score in the third quarter and the ‘Gulls piled on 21 more points to lead 62-22.

Julie Jansen finally broke the scoring drought with a free throw with 5:35 left in the game. Oak Harbor didn’t score again until Bryn Langrock knocked down a three with 48 seconds remaining.

Leete finished with 16 points, Jansen three, Langrock three, Jinai Guzman two and Brook Peplinski two. Kenna Prosch collected seven rebounds and Leete six.

Darian Riley scored 17 points for Everett.

“We played a good first quarter, especially on offense,” Atkins said. “Stringing together four solid quarter is what we have to do.”

Oak Harbor (0-10, 0-16) entertains Shorecrest (8-2, 13-4) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31.