The Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team made several surges but couldn’t quite catch visiting Meadowdale in a 51-39 loss Monday, Dec. 15.

After falling behind 16-6 in the first quarter, Oak Harbor never trailed by more than 12 or less than five the rest of the way until it started fouling at the end to stop the clock.

Each time the Wildcats sliced the lead to single digits, the Mavericks (3-3) responded and held off the Oak Harbor charge.

The Wildcats’ last push came in the fourth quarter. Bryn Langrock scored twice, including a three-pointer, and Rashanna Graham hit once, cutting Meadowdale’s lead to seven, 41-34, with 4:11 left in the game. From that point, the Mavericks connected on eight free throws and Oak Harbor would get only a three-ball from Jinai Guzman.

“We are right there,” coach John Atkins said, noting that the Wildcat are close to picking up their first win.

“We just need to finish.”

Atkins said his staff has been stressing fundamentals instead of game situations in practice and improved play has resulted.

He said he is happy “as long as we are getting better.”

Deja Bunch topped Oak Harbor in scoring with eight points.

Langrock finished with seven; Guzman five; Graham four; Janae Payne, Julie Jansen and Montana Koslowski three; and Taylor Deconzo, AnnaBelle Whitefoot and Hayley Lundstrom two.

Lundstrom collected six rebounds, and Jansen had five rebounds and two assists. Graham also had two assists.

Oak Harbor (0-7) goes to Ferndale (4-0) at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and then doesn’t play until the Mount Vernon Tournament Dec. 29 and 30.

(Hayley Lundstrom tries to beat Meadowdale’s Alexandria Steen on the baseline. Photo by Jim Waller.)