The free-throwing shooting was shaky at the end and there is some confusion about the final score, but the Oak Harbor girls made enough plays down the stretch to pull out a 51-48 win at Stanwood Friday.

Or was it 52-48 or 50-48? More about that later.

The win helped fourth-place Oak Harbor (8-6, 11-7) hold its one-game lead over Arlington (7-7, 10-8) with two games left. The top four teams automatically qualify for the district tournament. The fifth-place team in the Wesco North has to play a loser-out game with the fourth-place team in the Wesco South to earn a spot at district.

The victory over Stanwood guaranteed that Oak Harbor could finish no lower than a tie for fifth.

Oak Harbor will have to work hard to hang onto fourth. The Wildcats finish the season against the league’s top two team, Marysville-Pilchuck (12-3, 14-5) Monday, Feb. 8, and Monroe (11-3, 14-4) Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Fortunately, both games are at home (7:30 p.m.), and the Wildcats’ signature win this year was at Monroe where they came from way back in the first quarter for a 52-47 victory Jan. 13. M-P beat Oak Harbor 52-37 Jan. 11.

Arlington closes out the regular season against Everett (2-12, 4-14) at home and then on the road at Snohomish (6-8, 7-11).

There is some question about the final Stanwood score. One thing is for certain, Oak Harbor won. According to the scoreboard, Oak Harbor won 52-48. After the game when the scorebook keepers from the two schools met to verify the score, it was discovered that Stanwood’s book had one less point for Oak Harbor, making the final score 51-48. The home book, in this case, Stanwood’s, is the official score.

No one is sure how or when the Stanwood book missed a point or when the scoreboard operator inadvertently added a point.

To make matters more confusing, the results reported to other area newspapers by Stanwood had the score at 50-48. Oak Harbor coach Brett McLeod said, “I’m not sure where that came from.”

Going into the game, Oak Harbor knew it would have its hands full. The Spartans have won only six games all year but are the league’s tough-luck team. They have played everyone strong all winter but have suffered a handful of close losses.

True to form, the Spartans gave Oak Harbor all it could handle. After the ‘Cats went on top 12-8 in the first quarter, the home team moved to the lead at the break 25-22 and still led 35-33 heading into the final period.

The Wildcats eventually took control, but missed five free throws in the final minute to allow the Spartans a chance to steal back the win.

The following account is based upon what the teams saw on the scoreboard.

Oak Harbor took a five-point lead, 50-45, with 1:07 left. A three-point-play by Stanwood narrowed the gap to two, and then the Spartans were forced to foul to stop the clock.

Oak Harbor missed both free throws, but Stanwood tossed the outlet pass out of bounds.

Once again Stanwood had to foul, and Nicole Mowbray sank one of the two foul shots with 26 seconds left to make it 51-48.

McLeod said Oak Harbor had a defensive breakdown and Stanwood got a wide-open look at a tying 3-point shot. It was off the mark and the Spartans were forced to foul Jessica Denmon.

Denmon dropped in one of two to close out the win, and the scoreboard read, 52-48. (Or take your pick: 51-48 or 50-48.)

After Oak Harbor jumped to its first-quarter lead, Stanwood went to a triangle-and-two defense on Mowbray and Denmon. Mowbray still finished with 15 points and Denmon 17. It also opened up the floor for the other ‘Cats to score and Janelle Yoshimoto took advantage and chipped in with 10 points, all in the second half.

Clarissa Abadesco had five points and Jessica James and Shantae Young two each.

Mowbray led the defensive effort with an eye-popping 11 blocks.