Getting key plays from a pair of deep reserves, the depleted Oak Harbor High School girls basketball team held on to defeat visiting Cascade 32-29 Friday, Dec. 28, in a non-league game.
The Wildcats entered the game with starter Mikhaela Cortez on the bench with an ankle injury. Early in the game, Oak Harbor lost another starter when Payton Parks suffered a concussion in the first quarter. Two other starters spent time on the sidelines because of fouls. That forced coach Jon Atkins to turn to his bench for help, including using two junior varsity call-ups, freshmen Grace Waite and Tiana Jackson.
The Wildcats led most of the game, but the Bruins took the lead, 27-25, on a three-point play a minute into the fourth quarter.
Waite, who recently entered the game for the first time, answered with a three-pointer to give Oak Harbor the lead for good.
Waite’s junior sister Olivia added a bucket, and the Wildcats led 30-27 with 4:29 remaining.
Cascade scored to make it a point-one game, 30-29, before Sarah Mensah tallied off a nice pass from Jasmine Ford to set the score at 32-29 with just over a minute remaining.
A steal by Jackson stopped Cascade’s final attempt to tie the game, sealing the Wildcat win.
“We finished strong,” Atkins said. “The two freshmen made big plays; it was a good experience for them.”
Oak Harbor’s defense was tough all night, but the Wildcats had trouble turning a plethora of Bruin turnovers into points.
Oak Harbor led the low-scoring affair 6-4, 19-13 and 25-22 at the quarters.
Ford topped the Wildcats with 13 points, Olivia Waite had 6, Anna Jones 4, Miranda Wilson 4, Grace Waite 3 and Mensah 2.
No Cascade player scored more than 6 points.
The victory over the winless Bruins (0-10) snapped a five-game losing streak for Oak Harbor (0-4, 3-7).
The Wildcats return to league play with a trip to Cedarcrest (1-2, 4-2) at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4.
Tiana Jackson’s last-minute steal helped the Wildcats secure the win over Cascade. (Photo by John Fisken)
Sarah Mensah puts a shot in Oak Harbor’s win against Cascade. (Photo by John Fisken)
Olivia Waite gets by the Cascade defense for a shot. (Photo by John Fisken)
