Cascade outscored the Oak Harbor boys basketball team 23-14 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 59-52 win on the Wildcats’ court in the season opener for both teams Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Oak Harbor goes to Shorecrest (0-1) Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7:15 p.m. to start Wesco 3A play.

The Wildcats appeared to have the momentum heading into the fourth quarter against Cascade, but the Bruins finished the game on an 8-2 run over the final 2:30 to secure the win.

Oak Harbor hit the game’s first two buckets, then Cascade reeled off seven straight points and didn’t trail again until late in the third quarter.

The Bruins, who led 12-10 after one period, held the game’s biggest lead, 25-18, with 18 seconds left in the second quarter.

Oak Harbor’s Matt Burgoyne converted a pair of free throws, then two Cascade turnovers against the Wildcat press resulted in a hoop and two free throws by Kevawn Brooks, and Oak Harbor trailed by only one, 25-24, at the break.

Oak Harbor also finished the third quarter with a flourish. Down 34-30 with 1:52 left, the ‘Cats got eight points from Mike Washington Jr., including a three at the buzzer, to earn their first lead, 38-36, since the opening minutes.

Washington Jr. scored all 14 of Oak Harbor’s points in the third quarter and its first eight in the fourth.

His three-ball early in the final period gave Oak Harbor a 41-37 lead.

Cascade tied the score at 42 and the game remained close until Noah Nelson scored back-to-back hoops to give the Bruins a 55-50 lead with 1:33 left.

Cascade missed six of its next eight free throws, but Oak Harbor couldn’t take advantage.

Washington Jr., who played the game with a sore back, led all scorers with 26 points; Brooks added 11. Burgoyne finished with six, Drew Washington six, Cameron Faulkner four and Elias Whitefoot two.

Coach Mike Washington Sr. said his team needs more balanced scoring (two starters failed to score) and to shoot better to be successful.

The Wildcats hit only 35.6 percent (16-for-45) of their shots, including 4-for-17 (23.5 percent) from three-point range. Cascade shot 51.2 percent (22-for-43).

Cascade was led by DuSean Shankle and Nelson with 15 points each.