No matter how much they tried not to think about it, the reminders were always there.

Every loss brought nagging questions from classmates, teachers and family as to when it would end.

The Oak Harbor boys basketball team won’t have that worry any longer.

The Wildcats, who lost 26 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 21, 2004, broke into the win column on Friday night with a thrilling 42-41 victory over league opponent Monroe.

“It feels great,” OHHS junior Dallas Heidt said. “It took so long, it took so much practice.”

The relief wasn’t any more evident than in the reaction of senior guard Chris Hughes, who leapt into the air with a scream and a raised fist as the buzzer sounded.

“Oh God, the adrenaline, the crowd was into it, you’ve got to love it,” Hughes said.

Hughes was one of just three current players to experience the last Oak Harbor varsity victory, Feb. 17, 2004. That win also came against Monroe.

“Honestly, I’m just very happy for the kids,” OHHS head coach Bryan Schulle said of the win. “I’m very happy for the players because ultimately it’s going to be their memories.”

Breaking the streak couldn’t have come in a more exciting fashion.

Tied, 41-41, with 8 seconds left, Oak Harbor faced a possible deficit when the Bearcats’ 6-foot-8 center Stephen Waltman got open below the basket. As he turned toward the hoop, Wildcat junior James Leach set his feet and drew a charge and the fifth foul on Waltman.

On the ensuing inbound, sophomore guard Bryce Schulle was fouled with 6 seconds remaining. In the double bonus, Schulle missed his first free throw badly, but calmly knocked down the second. As a team OHHS shot a frigid 4-for-17 (23 percent) from the free throw line in the second half.

Asked if he felt any pressure with all the missed free throws and the game on the line Schulle admitted he was a little nervous.

“I felt it a little bit,” he said. “It was a little nerve wracking.”

With Monroe forced to go the distance of the court to tie, Oak Harbor pressured the Bearcats into a turnover in the final seconds to seal the victory.

Defensive pressure was key for the Wildcats in the second half. They forced six second-half turnovers, but more importantly used the pressure to generate energy.

“We just sort of got a wild hare there in the second half and started pressing right away,” coach Schulle said. “I think it just gave us so much energy.”

Oak Harbor was also helped by an unusually exuberant crowd.

“The crowd went crazy, it was fun,” coach Schulle said. “It was actually fun to be at an Oak Harbor basketball game tonight.”

The Wildcats took their first lead of the game, 39-36, at the 4:14 mark of the third quarter on a three pointer from Hughes. Over the final 12 minutes there were four lead changes and three ties.

Heidt scored 10 of his game-high 12 points in the final half, while Hughes scored all of his eight points in the second half.

“Chris probably had his best game of the year, Dallas also was much more aggressive at both ends of the floor,” coach Schulle said.

Sophomore Rodrick Rumble helped OHHS early, scoring eight of his nine points in the first quarter.

The Wildcats are now 1-2 in the Western Conference North and 1-5 overall.

Although it felt great to end the streak it doesn’t mean Oak Harbor is satisfied.

“I think we’re going to streak some wins together,” Hughes said. “We’ve got some credible opponents, but if we come out hard like we did tonight I think anything’s possible.”

OHHS faced Lake Stevens (1-3, 2-5) last night and will play its next game at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 28 at home against non-league Kamiak.

Monroe 15 9 6 11 — 41

Oak Harbor 14 8 9 11 — 42

Scoring: Oak Harbor-Heidt 12, Rumble 9, Hughes 8, Schulle 6, Leach 5, Hunter 2. Monroe-S. Waltman 12, Philippart 8, Sligh 6, Churlin 4, Silva 4, Muhammad 3, Hamik 2, Wright 2. JV score: Monroe 57, Oak Harbor 42.