Down by 1 point, the Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team had two chances to score in the final 30 seconds but couldn’t come up with a hoop and eventually lost 46-44 at Marysville-Pilchuck Tuesday, Dec. 4.

The non-league win broke a 44-game losing streak for the Tomahawks (1-2).

The Wildcats got off to a slow start and played catch-up through the first three quarters, according to coach Jon Atkins.

Marysville-Pilchuck led 12-10 after the first period and 26-21 at the half.

Oak Harbor finally evened the score at the end of the third quarter as the teams went into the final frame tied at 33.

The Wildcats trailed 45-44 in the final half minute but failed to get off a shot in two possessions as the Tomahawks forced a pair of turnovers.

Marysville-Pilchuck’s MacKenzie Konsor came up with a steal with 1.5 seconds left and hit a free throw to set the final score.

“We just fouled too much; they got 14 points from the free throw line, and that was really the difference in the game,” Atkins said. Oak Harbor hit eight of 18 fouls shots.

“Offensively we played well, Payton (Parks), Mikhaela (Cortez) and Jasmine (Ford) all had great games,” he added. “Defensively, we have to do a better job of playing without fouling, especially fouling while they are shooting.”

Oak Harbor also surrendered 29 offensive rebounds to Marysville-Pilchuck and committed 10 more turnovers, which allowed the Tomahawks to attempt 14 more field goals than the Wildcats.

Lauren Lewis led M-P with 21 points, and Miriah Summers had 16 points and 20 rebounds, 13 on the offensive end.

After a guard topped Oak Harbor in scoring in the first two games, the Wildcats’ post players came up big against the Tomahawks. Ford and Parks each scored 13 points and Cortez had 12. Miranda Wilson finished with 4 and Anna Jones 2.

Ford added 14 rebounds, three steals and five blocks, and Parks had 12 boards and three steals. Wilson collected four assists and Olivia Waite had four steals.

Atkins said his team will be tough if both the inside and outside players can put together strong offensive efforts in the same game.

Regardless, he noted, Oak Harbor is averaging 43 points per game, an improvement over past years. Last winter, the Wildcats failed to reach 30 points in half their games.

Oak Harbor (1-2) plays South Whidbey (3-0) at home at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.