In a battle of teams looking for their first conference win, visiting Mountlake Terrace slipped by the Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team 58-53 Thursday, Jan. 16.

The Wildcats were haunted by two things in the loss — Lindsey Ho and free-throw shooting.

Ho, a 5-1 sophomore point guard, dribbled through the Oak Harbor press, sliced the Wildcats’ defense for 24 points and dished out a handful of assists.

The overly aggressive Hawk defense sent Oak Harbor to the foul line for 22 free throws, but the Wildcats could not take advantage, slinking only eight. Mountlake Terrace (1-4, 3-8) made 12 of 19.

Five different Hawks scored in the first quarter to offset 6 points from Jasmine Ford and 4 from Mikhaela Cortez, and Mountlake Terrace led 11-10.

Ho popped in 10 points to help the Hawks to a 26-23 halftime lead.

Two Cortez baskets sandwiched around a hoop by Anna Jones followed by two free throws from Ford lifted Oak Harbor to a 31-30 lead midway through the third quarter.

Terrace responded with a 7-0 run and never trailed again, leading 41-37 after three quarters.

The Hawks built their biggest lead of the game, 47-38, early in the fourth quarter. Hoops by Tiana Jackson (on a nice pass from Ford), Cortez and Payton Parks pushed Oak Harbor to within 3, 48-45, with 3:40 remaining in the game.

Ho scored 6 points down the stretch to thwart the Wildcat comeback.

Cortez guided the Oak Harbor attack with 19 points. Ford had 14, Parks 8, Jones 6, Jackson 4 and Olivia Waite 2.

Oak Harbor (0-6, 6-6) plays at Shorecrest (3-1, 9-1) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17.

Oak Harbor’s Mikhaela Cortez shoots against Mountlake Terrace. (Photo by John Fisken)

Tiana Jackson, left, is fouled by Mountlake Terrace’s Lindsey Ho. (Photo by John Fisken)

Anna Jones (24) shoots over the defense of Terrace’s Ainslee Beach (22). (Photo by John Fisken)

Olivia Waite (11) tries to dribble by Hawk Lindsey Ho. (Photo by John Fisken)