“It was a weird game,” Oak Harbor High School boys basketball coach Mike Washington said about his club’s 49-36 win over Everett High School at Everett Community College Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Weird or not, it was an important victory for the Wildcats, helping Oak Harbor keep pace in the hunt for a playoff spot with three league games left.

Oak Harbor (4-6, 4-12), Everett (4-6, 7-10) and Marysville-Pilchuck (4-6, 7-9) are tied for second in the Wesco 3A North. (Division leader Stanwood – 10-0, 17-0 – has clinched first.)

In the Wesco South, Shorecrest (5-5, 11-6) and Shorewood (5-5, 10-7) are tied for third.

Of these five Wesco schools, the one with the worst league record can be bumped out of the postseason by the Northwest Conference’s Ferndale if the Golden Eagles hold a better league record. Currently Ferndale is 5-4 with three games remaining.

Oak Harbor heads to Shorecrest at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31.

The Wildcats host Ferndale in a nonleague game at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, making up the contest snowed out Dec. 20. Since it is a non-conference game, it will no impact on the playoff race.

The Oak Harbor-Everett game was odd, Washington said, because their was “no flow.” The game was herky-jerky and lacked rhythm.

The game was sloppy, but not so much because of turnovers. There were only 20 (13 by Oak Harbor) in the game. There was, however, poor shooting, especially by Everett.

The Seagulls hit only 21 percent of their shots (10 for 48) and scored in single digits the first three quarters.

Washington said the Seagulls’ struggles were combination of Oak Harbor’s defense and Everett “just being off.”

Everett connected on only 3 of 27 three-pointers (11 percent).

The Wildcats shot only 36 percent (18 for 50).

One player who didn’t have trouble finding the hoop was Oak Harbor’s Drew Washington; he poured in 29 points.

Both teams had only four players score, and Everett received all but six points from two players (Jace Chacon, 17; David Popach, 13).

Gabe Groenig scored eight for Oak Harbor, Zach Gibbs seven and Dyllan Harris five.

Oak Harbor led 9-4, 23-12 and 33-18 at the quarters.

The Wildcats controlled the boards, out-rebounding Everett 46-25 (including a 15-7 edge in offensive rebounds), and outscored the ‘Gulls 12-0 in second-chance points.

Gibbs corralled 11 rebounds, Groenig eight and Drew Washington seven.