The Marysville-Pilchuck High School boys basketball team used strong starts to both halves to earn a 68-53 win over visiting Oak Harbor Tuesday, Jan. 20.

The Tomahawks outscored the Wildcats 34-16 in the first and third periods to overcome Oak Harbor’s solid second and fourth quarters.

Marysville-Pilchuck (4-0, 10-2), the Wesco North leader, jumped on the cold-shooting ‘Cats for a 19-9 first-quarter lead, then outscored Oak Harbor by only two points in the second period to lead 36-24 at halftime.

The Tomahawks dominated the third quarter, taking a 51-31 cushion into the final eight minutes.

The Wildcats put up 22 points in the fourth quarter, five more than M-P, but had too much ground to make up.

“We did not shoot the ball very well last night,” coach John Weston said. “M-P is a well-rounded team; they share the ball well. It seemed like last night they hustled harder than us; they seemed to win the majority of the loose-ball battles.”

That being said, Weston likes the progress his team is making, noting that “earlier this year we were losing these games by 25.”

Oak Harbor’s leading scorer, Dyllan Harris, had an off shooting night, according to Weston, but still put up a game-best 27 points (22 in the second half) and hit four three-pointers.

Weston said Harris played the entire game and “worked really hard,” adding, Dyllan was able to contribute “through his defensive efforts and at the foul line.”

Zach Jones scored seven points, Anthony Powell four, Ben Fikse four, Sean Erskine three, Diangelo McKinney two, Savion Hollins-Passmore two, Jake Sturdevant two and Preston Rankin two.

Weston liked the play of Jones, who “has been doing a great job not turning the ball over and showing leadership from the point guard position,” and Hollins-Passmore, who got his first start, played with energy and “hustled on both ends of the floor.”

Oak Harbor (1-3, 2-12) hosts Everett (1-3, 4-10) at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.