Girls basketball - playoff at Jackson, 2-18-2009

The Oak Harbor varsity girls basketball team traveled to Mill Creek to face the WESCO South #1 and 10th-ranked Jackson Timberwolves in a first-round playoff game. Junior Jessica Denmon sparked the ‘Cats early, starting with a 6-0 lead and scoring 8 of 12 1st period points. The Wildcats let the Jackson offense into the game, but scored another 12 in the 2nd to lead 24-22 at halftime. Jackson’s offense really came alive in the 3rd period, putting OH in a deficit for the first time in the game when the Timberwolves took a 29-28 lead with 6:15 to go in the 3rd, and Jackson eventually built their lead to 43-35 at the end of the 3rd. Playing pressure defense, Oak Harbor fought back, with Nikki Mowbray bringing the Cats to within 2 with a steal and score at the 4:27 mark, then Jen Jansen tying the game 45-45 on a turnaround jumper. Jen scored seconds later on a nice pass from Cheyenne Tubo for the 47-45 lead. Jackson didn’t give up, and with 21 seconds remaining, took a 1-point lead. The Wildcats drove in and got the ball to Jansen just outside the key, but her shot (actually, it really, truly was a planned pass, she said!) went over the rim, where fortunately, Nikki was waiting. Nikki grabbed the ball and after a couple moves, shot it up and off the backboard and into the net. Jackson immediately called timeout with just 2.9 seconds left on the clock and OH with a 1-point, 52-51 lead. Jackson inbounded under the OH basket and were able to get a desperation shot off from halfcourt as the buzzer sounded, but the shot rolled around the rim and back out, leaving OH with the 52-51 win.

Jess was the leading scorer with 18, Jen had 17 and Nikki scored 13. Cori Henricksen and Kathryn Fisken rounded out the scoring with 2 each.

The girls next play Kamiak at Marysville HS on Saturday the 21st at 8pm. If the girls win the Kamiak game, they are guaranteed a spot in the state tournament at the Tacoma Dome. Come down to MPHS on Saturday, be loud and be proud.

YouTube clips, including a nice Tubo behind-the-back pass and Nikki's last shot will be up soon and can be found HERE.