Fate is taunting the Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team.

The Wildcats, who lost 24 straight, suffered their second close loss this week, falling 43-34 at Mount Vernon Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Oak Harbor was in the game throughout, trailing only 9-8, 21-19 and 28-24 at the quarters.

“I think we are really close,” coach Jon Atkins said. “Both of the games this week, we have been down by one. We just need to learn how to finish games out.

“The girls are getting better executing the offense, but we still need to focus on fundamentals.

“Deja Bunch has had two really big games, and Montana Koslowski really showed us last night that she can potentially be a big-time scorer for us.”

Turnovers have been a continual problem for the Wildcats during their losing streak; however, Oak Harbor committed only six miscues Wednesday.

The Bulldogs won by shooting 62 percent (16-for-26) from the field to 37 percent for Oak Harbor (13-for-35).

“We are shooting 13 percent from the three-point line for the season; I think that number will start going up and we’ll be OK,” Atkins said.

The Wildcats were 2-for-8 (25 percent) from beyond the arc against Mount Vernon.

Bunch scored eight points and Koslowski seven to lead the Wildcats. Rashanna Graham had six, Jinai Guzman five, Janae Payne four, Bryn Langrock two and AnnaBelle Whitefoot two.

Graham, Payne and Whitefoot each had five rebounds; Graham also had three assists.

Only four Bulldogs scored; Allison Marken led with 20.

Oak Harbor (0-4) plays at home twice this weekend at 7:15 p.m. Mount Baker (4-1) visits Friday and Anacortes (2-2) Saturday.