With a playoff spot on the line, the Marysville-Pilchuck girls basketball team knocked off Oak Harbor 55-33 on the Wildcats’ court Monday, Jan. 28.
Heading into the game, Oak Harbor trailed Marysville-Pilchuck by one game in the Wesco 3A North standings and needed the win to keep its playoff dreams alive.
The Tomahawks (4-8, 6-12), however, had an unexpectedly easy time in winning on the road on Oak Harbor’s Senior Night to eliminate the Wildcats.
Oak Harbor (2-10, 5-14) wraps up its season at Marysville Getchell (0-12, 2-17) at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Marysville-Pilchuck’s height bothered the Wildcats all night. At 5-10, the Tomahawks’ shortest starter was taller than four Oak Harbor starters, and M-P used its height to out rebound the ‘Cats 41-35, including a 21-13 edge in offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points.
The Tomahawks’ length also bothered the Oak Harbor offense, altering shots and making it difficult for the Wildcats to pass the ball on the perimeter to beat M-P’s 1-2-2 zone.
Marysville-Pilchuck’s zone surprised Oak Harbor, according to coach Trisha Wieber. The Tomahawks played a man-to-man when the two teams met earlier this season (a 62-48 M-P win Dec. 18), and Oak Harbor prepared to face the man again this time around.
Marysville-Pilchuck limited Oak Harbor to a 23-percent shooting night (12-for-53). The Tommies shot 33 percent (22-for-67) and outscored Oak Harbor 21-6 from three-point range.
The Tomahawks also did a better job taking care of the ball, committing 15 turnovers to Oak Harbor’s 24.
Marysville-Pilchuck never trailed and led 15-6 late in the first quarter. Baskets by Liz Lym and Annie Leete cut the gap to 15-11 and gave Oak Harbor some momentum heading into the second period.
Then came the game’s turning point. In a span of 90 seconds, Marysville-Pilchuck’s Charlee Pilon drilled a trio of threes to help the Tomahawks go on a 11-2 run and take control. By halftime it was 33-17 and Oak Harbor never threatened.
The lead was 18, 43-25, going into the final period.
Before the game, Oak Harbor honored seniors Ciera Wiser, Kelsey Rankin and Jalani Bobo.
Wieber said all three played hard on their night, but the emotions of the evening might have led to the team’s uneven performance.
Wiser had a strong all-around game, scoring eight points, collecting an Oak Harbor season-high 15 rebounds and handing out five assists.
Leete and Rankin also scored eight points; Bobo finished with seven and Lym two.
