The Marysville Getchell boys basketball team took advantage of a flood of Oak Harbor turnovers in the third quarter to pull away for a 63-51 win on the Wildcats’ court Monday, Feb. 1.
The loss put a serious dent in Oak Harbor’s hopes for a playoff spot. The Wildcats can still reach the postseason but, with two games left, several different parts have to fall perfectly into place.
Oak Harbor will need to win its final two games over teams ahead of it in the standings. The Wildcats (1-7, 2-16) go to Marysville-Pilchuck (5-2, 6-10) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, and host Everett (4-3, 7-10) at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8.
Arlington (3-4, 7-10) will need to lose its final three games, and Getchell (2-6, 8-10) will need to split, losing to Stanwood and beating Arlington.
If all that happens, Oak Harbor, Getchell and Arlington will tie for fourth place and face off in a tie-breaker to determine which team will play the fourth-place team from the Wesco South to earn the final Wesco seed into the district tournament.
The Oak Harbor-Marysville Getchell game was close until midway through the third quarter. Up to that point, the Wildcats were able to navigate through the Chargers’ different pressure defenses. Then, leading 30-28 with 4:03 left in third period, Oak Harbor began to crumble under the Getchell’s half-court trap.
The Chargers went on a 13-0 run, and, at one point, scored 10 consecutive points off Oak Harbor mistakes.
Diangelo McKinney scored to break MG’s streak, then the Chargers tacked on five more points to lead 46-32 heading into the fourth quarter.
Oak Harbor was hurt when its leading scorer, Dyllan Harris, went to the bench with three fouls early in the run.
The Chargers’ lead grew to 16 in the fourth quarter. Oak Harbor sliced it to 10 twice but could get no closer.
Getchell’s Cody Day did most of the damage, scoring eight points during the Chargers’ third-quarter run and sinking eight of nine free throws during Oak Harbor’s comeback attempt in the fourth period.
He finished with a game-high 32 points.
Oak Harbor trailed 12-9 after the first quarter and 24-22 at halftime.
Turnovers weren’t the only thing that hurt the Wildcats. They failed to take advantage of numerous opportunities in the paint throughout the game, rimming out shot-after-shot.
Harris scored 25 points for Oak Harbor, Sean Erskine nine, Adam Nelson seven, McKinney six, Josh Cote two and Ozell Jackson two.
Oak Harbor honored its seniors before the game: Harris, Bryce Diras, McKinney, Darnell Dizon, Savion Hollins-Passmore, Preston Rankin and Erskine.
(Left, senior Darnell Dizon launches a three-pointer.
Below, Adam Nelson flips in a floater.
Photos by John Fisken.)
