Putting a little salve into the wound of a tough season, the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team finished its year with a 70-60 win over visiting Everett Monday, Feb. 8.
The Wildcats (2-8, 3-17) won two of their final four games after capturing only one of the first 16. Seven of the losses came in close games, including three conference setbacks that slipped away in the final minute. One of those losses was in overtime to Everett (4-6, 7-13) Jan. 21.
This time around, Oak Harbor took the lead over Everett late in the first quarter and led the rest of the way. At one point the gap reached 13 points; however, Everett whittled its deficit to four several times in the final quarter.
“It feels really good to win the last one,” coach John Weston said. “It was a really good team effort. The kids played selfless tonight. There were some moments of mental mistakes, but I am happy with their resiliency.
“I am really happy for our seniors, getting a win in their last game in front of a good crowd.
“I encouraged them to enjoy the game, to play it with smiles on their faces. Throughout the game you could tell they were enjoying playing together, enjoying their final game together.”
Oak Harbor fell behind 6-2, then went on a 13-2 run, capped by a three-ball from Diangelo McKinney. The Wildcats finished the first quarter up 15-10, getting six points each from Dyllan Harris and Sean Erskine and nice assists from Adam Nelson, McKinney and Josh Cote.
The lead grew to 11, 24-13, before Everett trimmed it to five, 29-24, at halftime.
Erskine, Harris and Nelson each scored twice and Oak Harbor upped its lead to 44-31 midway through the third quarter. Fouls, however, started to pile up against the Wildcats (they had 14 to only two for the Seagulls).
With several starters forced to sit, Everett started to creep back into the game, and Oak Harbor’s lead was eight, 48-40, heading into the fourth period.
Everett was within four three different times in the final minute, but Oak Harbor hit 10 of 12 free throws to sew up the win.
Harris, who finished his Wildcat career with more than 1,000 points, led Oak Harbor with 24; he also had eight rebounds.
Erskine added 17 points and nine boards.
“We got a huge game from Sean,” Weston said. “He was the catalyst in the first half.”
Nelson and McKinney each scored nine points, Cote had seven, Ozell Jackson two and Preston Rankin two.
Savion Hollins-Passmore collected eight rebounds.
(Left:Adam Nelson flies by Everett’s Nate Tuck for a basket.
Middle: Diangelo McKinney sinks a three-ball for the Wildcats.
Below: Dyllan Harris scraps with Everett’s Chris Bell for a loose ball.
Photos by John Fisken.)
