Statistics can be misleading, but there was no mistake that rebounding played a key role in Oak Harbor’s 61-48 loss in boys basketball at Arlington Tuesday.
Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington Sr. said, “They killed us on the boards.” Right, he was. The Eagles out rebounded Oak Harbor 40-14, with a 17-2 edge at the offensive end.
As a result of the rebounding advantage, Arlington scored 20 second-chance points to Oak Harbor’s four.
Oak Harbor raced to a 15-10 first-quarter lead as Mike Washington Jr. and Colby Anter sparked the offense. The Wildcats got the ball inside for several hoops and scored off several fast breaks.
Then the momentum swung as Arlington “got more aggressive,” particularly on the boards, according to Washington Sr.
He said, “The effort was there and the kids worked hard, but they were physically stronger.”
While the inside work carried the Eagles throughout the game, it was two long range bombs by Zach Cooper that turned the momentum Arlington’s way in the second quarter.
Cooper scored seven points in the period and Griffin Ginnis five as Arlington took the lead at the half, 24-22. The Eagles then moved out in front 43-34 heading into the final quarter.
A quick start to the last quarter helped Oak Harbor cut the margin to five with about five minutes left in the game, but Arlington withstood the rally and regained control.
Washington Jr. was Oak Harbor’s leading scorer with 21 points. Denzel Hardin had seven, Jay Stout five, Stevie Bratt five, Anter four, Trace Paul two, Rashaad Smith two and Ryan Fakkema two.
Arlington (7-6, 10-7) finished with four players in double figures. Cooper and Eric Carlson each scored 16.
Oak Harbor had just six turnovers to Arlington’s 13 and had a better game at the foul line (15-18, 83 percent, to 13-20, 65 percent).
The rebounding edge, which resulted in many close range shots, helped Arlington finish the game with a 45.8 percent (22-48) shooting mark; Oak Harbor shot 40.5 percent (15-37).
The Wildcats (3-11, 4-13) have their final home game Friday, Feb. 5, with second-place Stanwood (11-2, 11-6) at 7:30 p.m.
