Oak Harbor wins suspended game / Boys basketball

By Jim Waller • January 22, 2019 1:30 am

It took more than a month in the making, but it was worth the wait.

The Oak Harbor High School boys basketball team finished off a 65-55 win over visiting Shorewood Monday, Jan. 21, in a game that started Dec. 14.

The contest was suspended 12 seconds into the fourth quarter last month when the power went out at the Oak Harbor High School gymnasium with the Wildcats leading 46-42.

The win was critical for the Wildcats, who are trying to get into postseason play. The top 10 teams in District 1 based upon the rating percentage index qualify for the playoffs. Going into Monday’s game, Oak Harbor was ranked 12th, but the win over the sixth-ranked Thunderbirds (4-5, 5-10) should give the Wildcats a boost.

The Wildcats (3-7, 5-11) have a shot to leap over 11th-ranked Snohomish (2-8, 5-11) when the two teams meet in Oak Harbor at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.

The Oak Harbor-Shorewood game was close throughout as the teams traded leads over the first three quarters.

When play resumed Monday, the Thunderbirds scored first, making it a 2-point game, 46-44. From there, Oak Harbor built a small cushion and held on.

Haven Brown and Kevin Schuldt hit back-to-back three-pointers to put the Wildcats on top 52-44.

Shorewood sandwiched a pair of baskets around a Matt Kelley free throw, then Brown and Schuldt struck again.

Brown drilled another three, and Schuldt went to the rim for a hoop and it was 58-48.

Kelley hit a jumper between two T-bird buckets, then Oak Harbor sank five free throws (two from Brown, one from Kelley and two from Dorian Hardin) over the final 1:15 to seal the deal.

Hardin (18 points), Schuldt (16), Brown (12) and Kelley (10) all finished in double figures. Austin Boesch added 5 points and Gavin Allen 4.

“The kids effort was great,” Oak Harbor coach John Weston said. “(Starting in the fourth quarter) was very odd. It all just felt off, but the guys played one of their best quarters all season, so I was really pleased.”

Weston noted that starting point guard Allen sat when play resumed because of four fouls and backup Andrew Baloy “gave us a good start to give Gavin some relief.”

After the Snohomish game Wednesday, Oak Harbor goes to Everett (1-9, 2-14; 14th in RPI) and Arlington (7-2, 11-4; second in RPI) before finishing the regular season at home with Marysville Getchell (6-3, 8-7; fourth in RPI) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.