For the third time in the past four games, the Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team headed into the fourth quarter within reach of a win but sputtered over the final eight minutes to lose, this time 44-28 at Shorecrest Friday, Jan. 25.

The Scots led 31-26 going into the fourth period and then outscored Oak Harbor 13-2 to win going away.

The Wildcats had eight of their 22 turnovers in the final period and made only one of 12 shots. They also missed both free throw attempts.

While Oak Harbor’s shooting was dismal in the fourth, it wasn’t much better earlier in the evening. The Wildcats shot a miserable 16 percent (9-for-55) for the game.

Neither team shot well, but Oak Harbor’s efforts made Shorecrest’s shaky 30 percent (16-for-54) seem hot.

Behind six points from Annie Leete and five from Kelsey Rankin, Oak Harbor led 12-8 after the first period.

Little did the Wildcats know that going 3-for-13 (23 percent) in the quarter would be a “good” period from the field. Oak Harbor was also only 5-for-11 from the foul line. The Wildcats would get only five more free throws the remainder of the game, hitting three.

Oak Harbor missed it first 10 shots of the second quarter and Shorecrest led 22-18 at the break.

Rankin scored the first four points of the second half to tie the game at 22, then the Scots finished the quarter on a 9-4 run, hitting five of six free throws, and led 31-26.

Shorecrest’s Onyie Chibuogwa hit two buckets to start the fourth, and sister Uju followed with two more, the second a three, and it was 40-26. Annie Schlachter soon added another three. The treys were the first two for the Scots after they missed their first 18 attempts from beyond the arc.

Rankin finished with 12 points, Leete had 11, Hayley Lundstrom two, Liz Lym two and Ciera Wiser one.

Wiser led Oak Harbor with seven rebounds and three assists. Natalie Fiallos also recorded three assists.

Oak Harbor (2-9, 5-13) hosts Marysville-Pilchuck (3-8, 5-12) in a crucial game at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28.

The Wildcats will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss.