Hot shooting Cascade gunned its way by the visiting Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team 77-64 Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the season opener.

The Bruins were up five, 19-14, at the end of the first quarter and eight at the half, 41-33. That lead reached 17 in the fourth quarter before the Wildcats made a run to trim the bulge to six.

Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington Sr. said impatience and poor shot selection stymied the rally once the ‘Cats got back into the game.

Mike Washington Jr. led all scorers with 25 points and teammate Jay Stout added 15. The Bruins were led by Johnnie Hilliard and James Cline with 23 each.

Washington Jr. also topped the Wildcats with 13 rebounds and five assists.

Cascade out shot Oak Harbor 50.8 percent (31-61) to 38.7 percent (24-62). Oak Harbor was also cold from long range, hitting just three of 14 three-pointers. The Bruins nailed six of 17.

Washington Sr. said, “They (the Bruins) are a good shooting team, but I don’t think they will always make the kinds of shots they were making against us. They hit some unbalanced shots, some contested shots.”

He added, “Honestly, they hit some three-pointers near the time line.”

Washington Sr. said, “I thought we played pretty well; at times we forced some shots and settled for jump shots. We need to attack the basket more.”

He lauded the play of junior Josiah Miller: “He played really great defense and gave us a spark off the bench.” Washington Sr. also praised the defense of Kevawn Brooks.

Another bright spot for Oak Harbor was rebounding. Washington Sr. said it was an area of concern coming into the season, but the Wildcats out rebounded Cascade 47-34. Trace Paul followed Washington Jr. on the rebounding list with seven boards; Stout had five and Brooks four.

Washington Jr. and Stout were the only Wildcats to score in double figures. Denzel Massey and Brooks tossed in six each, Matt Burgoyne and Connor Paul added four each, and Miller and Trace Paul hit for two apiece.

Oak Harbor played without an injured Stevie Bratt. “We could have used him,” Washington Sr. said.

The Wildcats play their first home game Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. against Marysville-Pilchuck. The Tomahawks dropped their opener to Mountlake Terrace 66-44.