A big second half carried the Oak Harbor boys basketball team over host Marysville-Pilchuck 54-45 Tuesday.

Oak Harbor (4-11, 5-14) goes to Monroe (4-11, 6-13) Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. for the season finale and a battle for sixth place.

After the Wildcats hustled to an 8-2 lead, the Tomahawks (4-12, 7-13) worked their way back into the game and led 23-19 at the half.

A fast start in the third period helped Oak Harbor regain a three-point lead. That lead turned into a three-point deficit in just seconds when M-P recorded what amounted to as a six-point play. The Tommies scored a hoop, and in the process an Oak Harbor player was whistled for a technical foul. Marysville hit both free throws and was awarded the ball out of bounds. It scored off that possession to complete the big play.

From that point the Wildcats took over.

A full-court man-to-man press created turnovers and hurried Marysville-Pilchuck shots, and Oak Harbor roared back into the lead. The Wildcats were up 39-35 going into the final period and the Tomahawks never got closer.

Oak Harbor hit seven of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter (and 15 of 19 for the game) to help maintain the lead.

After back-to-back games where they were beat up on the boards, the Wildcats bounced back by out-rebounding Marysville 36-34.

The ‘Cat defense forced Marysville into a poor shooting night. The Tomahawks shot just 30.9 percent (17-55) and only 19 percent (4-21) from 3-point range.

Oak Harbor shot 39.5 percent (17-43) and hit a solid 62.5 percent (5-8) from long range.

Mike Washington Jr. topped Oak Harbor with 22 points; he also had seven rebounds.

Jay Stout had 11 points, Rashaad Smith eight (and a team-high eight rebounds), Denzel Hardin seven, Trace Paul four (and seven rebounds), Stevie Bratt one and Ryan Fakkema one (and a team-high three assists).

Coach Mike Washington Sr. said, “That is the first time in over 10 years that we have beaten Marysville twice in one year.”