Oak Harbor couldn’t overcome a frigid first half and fell to the visiting Lynden girls basketball team 63-39 Wednesday, Dec. 8.

The Lions (2-0), shooting 46 percent in the first half, took advantage of the icy Wildcats and raced to a 29-9 lead at the break.

Oak Harbor’s Annie Leete hit a bucket in the game’s first possession, then the Wildcats didn’t sink another field goal Dominique Jackson banked one in with 2:38 left in the half.

Oak Harbor’s offense picked up in the second half but had trouble cutting into the huge Lynden lead. The ‘Cats put up 13 points in the third quarter, but the Lions netted 18. Oak Harbor outscored the Lions 17-16 in the fourth quarter.

Lynden cooled considerably in the second half and shot 28.2 percent (20-71) for the game, only four percentage points better than Oak Harbor (13-53). However, the much taller Lions controlled the boards, out rebounding Oak Harbor 42-22 and creating numerous second chances.

The Lions held a 10-13 edge in turnovers.

Annie Leete and Emilie Renninger each scored nine points for Oak Harbor. Adrianna Royal added eight, Janelle Yoshimoto five, Jackson four, Ciera Wiser two and Tatiana Cumming two.

Renninger picked up her points on three three-pointers; she also led the Wildcats in rebounding with five.

Lynden coach Rob Adams substituted liberally throughout the contest and all 11 Lions scored.

Oak Harbor coach Trisha Clayville was pleased with the second half and said, “The end was the way we can play: running the floor, passing, attacking the basket.”

Clayville was displeased with her team’s slow start but commended Yoshimoto for her first-half effort and being “ready to play.”

Clayville also noted the overall play of Royal, saying she is “finding her rhythm” after missing the first two games.

Things don’t get any easier for the winless Wildcats (0-4); now they host the state’s eighth-ranked team, Lynnwood (3-0), Friday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wesco 3A opener.