Unable to escape Glacier Peak’s physical and aggressive defense, the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team was eliminated from postseason play with a 58-36 loss to the Grizzlies in the District 1 3A tournament at Jackson High School Saturday, Feb. 16.
With the win, Glacier Peak finished third in the district and earned the final berth into the regional tournament. Stanwood defeated Mountlake Terrace 47-43 to grab the district crown and earn the top seed into the regional.
Glacier Peak’s dominate defense limited Oak Harbor to single digit scoring in each of the first three quarters.
It started well for Oak Harbor as it scored on a monster dunk by Chris Hailer in the first quarter. After Dayne Herron stole a Grizzly pass, he tossed to JoJo Webster who led the fast break and finished it with a lob to Hailer for the flush. GP coach Brian Hunter quickly called timeout to stop the early Oak Harbor momentum. After the break, the Grizzlies ramped up their defense, creating numerous Wildcat turnovers and finishing the first quarter on a 14-3 run to go ahead 17-8.
Oak Harbor’s defense had its moment in the second quarter when it held the Grizzlies to four points, allowing the Wildcats to stay within striking distance at the half, trailing 21-14.
Drew Washington swished a three to start the second half, and the Wildcats were down only four, 21-17. The teams traded baskets, then Glacier Peak took off, going on an 18-1 run.
After shooting only 36 percent the first half, GP heated up in the second (shooting 54 percent) to run away with the win with 20 third-quarter points and a 41-23 lead.
Any dream of a miracle comeback in the fourth was quickly erased when GP started the final period on an 11-3 run to gain its biggest lead, 52-26. The Grizzlies kept their man-to-man press on deep into the fourth quarter and did not empty their bench until just over two minutes remaining.
The Grizzly defense held Oak Harbor to 31 percent shooting (14-for-45). The Wildcats compounded the problem by making only six of 11 free throws (54.5 percent).
Glacier Peak’s rebounding was as dominate as its defense, beating Oak Harbor 40-25 on the boards.
It was a tough final game for senior starters Webster, Herron and Hailer. Webster scored only four points, Hailer two and Herron one. Hailer did collect eight rebounds and Herron six. Washington scored 16 points, Dyllan Harris seven and Gabe Groenig six.
Zach Pedersen, Glacier Peak’s 6-6 post, scored 20 points and snared 14 rebounds. Ramsey Rosales fired 16 threes, hitting five and finishing with 15 points.
Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington praised the Glacier Peak defense and said, “We just couldn’t buy a bucket; we just couldn’t do anything.”
The Wildcats finished the year with a 13-11 record, and Glacier Peak upped its record to 19-5.
