The Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team stormed back from a 17-point halftime deficit only to lose 56-54 on a buzzer-beater at Meadowdale Tuesday, Dec. 16.

The Mavericks’ Charlie White slipped in for a last-second layup to help Meadowdale escape the Wildcat rally.

Oak Harbor’s Dyllan Harris hit several clutch free throws and Zach Jones drained a three-pointer with 20 seconds left, completing the comeback and knotting the score at 54.

The Wildcats trailed by only one, 10-9, after the first quarter, then Meadowdale (3-2) buried Oak Harbor with a 20-4 second period to lead 30-13 at halftime.

Oak Harbor began pressing after the break, causing Maverick turnovers that resulted in easy transition shots.

The Wildcats cut the lead by five in the third period, 40-28, then rang up a 26-point final period to even the score.

“We played really flat in the first half, and Meadowdale just seemed to want it more than us,” coach John Weston said. “In the second half we played the game at our tempo and with a lot more energy. The kids started showing more discipline; they followed the game plan and were better at making in-game adjustments.”

The Wildcats went with a seven-man rotation down the stretch, and all “contributed in a major way and really showed confidence in one another,” according to Weston.

He was particularly impressed with Diangelo McKinney, who showed “strong leadership and maturity.”

“We showed great resilience throughout the game,” Weston said. “The heart and focus we showed was the best I have seen since I have been here.”

Harris scored a game-high 24 points. Jones chipped in with  14, McKinney eight, Ben Fikse four, Jake Sturdevant two, Sean Erskine one and Anthony Powell one.

Reid Wilson scored 23 points for the Mavericks.

Oak Harbor (1-5) goes to Mariner (4-2) at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27.