The game started poorly but the season started well for the Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team as it came from behind to defeat visiting Anacortes 54-51 Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Down by eight, 32-24, with about six minutes left in the third quarter, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run. The string ended with Oak Harbor’s only three of the game, hit by Annie Leete to put the ‘Cats up 35-34. From that point no team led by more than three until the game’s final minutes when Oak Harbor went on top 50-46.

Anacortes hit two three-pointers to start the game and built an 11-2 lead before Oak Harbor narrowed the gap to 11-8. The Seahawks hit another three (their final trey of the game) to lead 14-8 at the quarter and then led at the break 29-22.

Oak Harbor’s third quarter rally was led by Jalani Bobo who hit two buckets and then four of six free throws to set up Leete’s go-ahead basket.

One of the key story lines was the free-throw line.

Anacortes took 12 free throws before Oak Harbor had one to help build its early lead.  The Wildcats hit 12 of 14 from the beginning of the second half to midway through the fourth quarter to get back in the game.

For the night, Oak Harbor was 19 for 26 at the line, 73 percent, to Anacortes’ 10 of 23, 43 percent.

The Seahawks grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to Oak Harbor’s six and committed four less turnovers (25 to 29), giving them the chance to take 17 more shots from the field.

For the game, Anacortes was 19 for 61, 31 percent; Oak Harbor was 17 for 44, 39 percent.

Leete led all scorers with 24 points, including hitting eight of 10 foul shots. Bobo finished with 11 points, Ciera Wiser seven, Kelsey Rankin seven and Liz Lym six.

Starting point guard Natalie Fiallos missed over a quarter while in foul trouble.

Leete also led the team with eight rebounds, eight steals and five assists. Wiser collected six rebounds and four assists, and Bobo had six boards.

Coach Trisha Wieber said her team started to play better in the second half when the “younger kids finally started to feel comfortable.”

She added, “I am proud of the kids; they played hard. It was a good win, a good experience.”

Oak Harbor goes to Mount Baker at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30