The Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team outscored visiting Squalicum 36-18 in the middle quarters on the way to a 48-40 win Monday, Dec. 7.

The Storm took an early lead, 10-3, then the Wildcats went on a 15-2 run that bridged the first and second quarters to go ahead 18-12.

Deja Bunch scored the first and last buckets and Julie Jansen scored twice during the surge to give Oak Harbor a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

The Wildcats led 24-18 at the half, even though starters Bryn Langrock and Janae Payne sat most of the second period in foul trouble.

A big 21-point third quarter buried Squalicum. Langrock hit three-pointers at the beginning, middle and end of the quarter and Payne connected on two hoops to help Oak Harbor take a 42-23 lead going into the fourth period.

Bunch opened the fourth quarter with two free throws, giving the Wildcats a 21-point lead, then Squalicum stormed back into the game with a 12-1 run.

The Storm (1-4) took advantage of Oak Harbor turnovers and poor shooting to slice the gap to seven, 47-40, with 1:31 left to play but couldn’t get any closer.

Oak Harbor coach Jon Atkins said his team reached several pregame goals. The Wildcats wanted to start both halves quickly, and did so after the break with a 10-1 spurt.

They also wanted to limit Squalicum, a good offensive rebounding team to 15 offensive boards, and did so, allowing 14.

Oak Harbor’s defense forced the Storm to shoot only 22 percent (14-63) while the Wildcats shot 37 percent (17-46).

The Wildcats, however, committed 18 turnovers to Squalicum’s seven.

Langrock led Oak Harbor with 12 points, Rashanna Graham had nine, Jansen seven, Bunch six, Payne six, Matti Miesle four and AnnaBelle Whitefoot four.

Oak Harbor outrebounded the Storm 36-28. Payne snared 10, Jansen eight and Whitefoot seven.

Whitefoot also had four assists.

Squalicum’s Chalae Wolters scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the Storms’ fourth-quarter rally.

Oak Harbor (2-1) hosts Mount Vernon (0-2) at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9.