It’s nice to see smiles on the basketball court again.
Fresh off a win over Marysville-Pilchuck Tuesday that broke a nine-game losing streak, the re-energized Oak Harbor boys basketball team picked up another win by running by Monroe here Thursday 63-44. And, probably more importantly, it looked like the Wildcats were having fun again.
Playing with a little more bounce in their step, the Wildcats fought through a close first half to lead at the break 28-24.
In the third quarter Oak Harbor exploded to outscore the Bearcats 22-5. The Wildcats seemed to win every tough rebound, every lose ball, every contested shot. And with each small victory, the Wildcats’ confidence grew and the effort increased. Monroe didn’t have a chance.
The igniter in the quarter was Jay Stout. The 5-8 junior guard scored 12 of his career-high 27 points in the third period. He twice scored off steals to build some Wildcat momentum; next he scored twice off assists from Mike Washington Jr. on uncontested fast break layins to further demoralize the Bearcats. Then he drove a stake through Monroe’s heart by drilling two 3-pointers on the final two possessions of the quarter. When he and his teammates were finished, they were up 50-29.
Even with the lead, Oak Harbor didn’t coast. The energetic effort continued and the Bearcats (2-6, 4-8) had no opening to get back into the game.
Stout may have been at the eye storm but the game was far from a one-man effort. Colby Anter, Rashaad Smith, Aaron Boesch and Stevie Bratt dominated the boards, rarely allowing Monroe second-shot opportunities.
Ryan Fakkema and Denzel Harden proved you don’t have to score to contribute. Fakkema finished with two points and Harden went scoreless, but their perimeter defense disrupted Monroe’s offense and helped spark numerous fastbreak opportunities.
Washington had another solid game, scoring 18 points and dishing out six assists. Anter had eight points, and Smith and Boesch four each.
The Wildcats (2-6, 3-9) travel to Cascade (5-3, 7-5) Tuesday, Jan. 19, then come home to face Snohomish (5-3, 6-6) Friday, Jan. 22.
Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington Sr. said the key to the win was “defensive effort – they got after it.”
He added, “We are starting to make plays to get us over the hump. It was a good team effort, a good team effort.”
Then he smiled.
