Kentwood stops Wildcat streak | Boys basketball

Kentwood snapped the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team's four-game winning streak 57-45 at the 42nd annual Bellevue College High School Tournament Thursday, Dec. 27.

Kentwood snapped the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team’s four-game winning streak 57-45 at the 42nd annual Bellevue College High School Tournament Thursday, Dec. 27.

Oak Harbor (5-3) meets Monroe (2-6) at 3 p.m. Friday in the three-day tournament. The Bearcats lost to Bear Creek 62-47 Thursday.

Wildcat coach Mike Washington said Kentwood “killed us on the boards (20-10) in the first half.” The rebounding edge and cold shooting by Oak Harbor helped the Conquerors increase a 12-9 first-quarter lead to 31-16 in the second quarter before a small flourish by the ‘Cats just before the break trimmed the gap to 33-23.

Oak Harbor trailed 41-33 heading into the final quarter.

Kentwood (5-3) finished with a 38-25 edge in rebounding, including 11 offensive boards to only five for Oak Harbor.

The Wildcats shot only 33 percent in the first half and 36.7 percent for the game (18-for-49). The Wildcats had a tough time from long range, connecting on only 20 percent of its three-point shots (4-for-20, 2-for-13 in the first half).

The Conquerors shot 44 percent (23-for-52).

It was a particularly rough shooting night for one of Oak Harbor’s top scorers, Drew Washington, who hit only one of 12 shots and finished with three points.

JoJo Webster led Oak Harbor with 15 points.

Coach Washington said Chris Hailer “played well” with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Dayne Herron had eight points, Donavan Sellgren three, Dyllan Harris three and Gabe Groeing two.

Mike Washington said, “We could have beaten that team. We just didn’t play well; we didn’t play smart. I’m very disappointed in our effort.”