A physical Monroe boys basketball team wore down Oak Harbor and steadily pulled away for a 69-57 win at the Bellevue Holiday Tournament at Bellevue Community College Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Oak Harbor (3-5) now takes on Juanita of Kirkland (2-6) in the second round of the tournament at noon Thursday, Dec. 29.

Monroe entered the game with an unimpressive 2-4 record, but the mark is deceiving. All four losses were by three points or less, including a two-point loss to fifth-ranked and unbeaten Snohomish and a one-point loss to 7-1 Lake  Stevens.

Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington Sr. said, “They were physically stronger than us and played more aggressive than us. They are a very solid team.”

He added, “I thought the kids fought hard. We were just physically undermanned, and we missed Kevawn (Brooks).”

Brooks, Oak Harbor’s strongest inside presence, is out with a wrist injury.

Monroe led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter and 31-22 at the half. The Bearcats put the game away in the third quarter by outscoring Oak Harbor 19-12 with the help of several transition baskets.

Monroe committed only seven turnovers to Oak Harbor’s 12 and outscored the Wildcats 11-0 off the mistakes.

A bright spot for Oak Harbor was balanced scoring.

Washington said, “We had four in double figures for the first time in a long time.”

He was particularly pleased with the play of JoJo Webster who led Oak Harbor in scoring with 16 points, including 12 off three-pointers.

Drew Washington scored 15 points, Mike Washington Jr. 13 and Matt Burgoyne 10.

Cameron Faulkner had two points and Paul Johannsen one to complete the scoring.

Burgoyne and Dayne Herron each grabbed six rebounds.

Tony Peloquin had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bearcats.