Oak Harbor’s girls’ basketball team outscored host Bellingham 21-4 in the third quarter to run away from the Raiders for a 56-30 win Thursday.

The Wildcats, spurred by Jessica Denmon’s nine points, sprinted to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter, and went into halftime with the same nine-point lead, 27-18.

Coach Brett McLeod said, “We gave them a ton of second chances in the first half. We didn’t play bad defense; just kept giving them second opportunities.”

The Wildcats began boxing out in the third quarter and limiting the Raiders to one shot per possession. That turned the tide and Oak Harbor’s offense, led by Nicole Mowbray’s eight points in the period, did the rest.

Mowbray finished the night with 24 points and Denmon 21.

DeLeon had 5 points; and Clarissa Abadesco, Emilie Renninger and Jessica James added 2 each.

Bellingham defeated Oak Harbor last year when the Wildcats failed to handle the Raiders’ trapping defense. McLeod said his team “too care of the ball” this time around and had little trouble with Bellingham’s defensive pressure.

The win gave the Wildcats a 2-0 record to start the season. Next Friday Oak Harbor begins league play at Cascade, then returns home Monday, Dec. 14, against Snohomish at 7:30 p.m.