Big basket, big win for Oak Harbor
Published 11:37 pm Wednesday, February 18, 2009
MILL CREEK — The third time really is a charm for the Oak Harbor girls’ basketball team.
After falling to the Jackson Timberwolves on the road the last two years, Nicole Mowbray put back a miss by teammate Jennifer Jansen with 2.9 seconds remaining and Oak Harbor pulled off a 52-51 upset of Jackson in the first round of the 4A District 1 tournament Wednesday night at Henry M. Jackson High School.
Jackson, the No. 1 seed from the Western Conference South Division, took a one-point lead, 51-50, on a Chanel Sam pull-up jumper from about five feet. Then, the Wildcats called a timeout, organized and set up for Jansen down low.
Jansen’s fade-away jumper was too hard and sailed over the rim to a waiting Mowbray who put in the uncontested game-winner.
“I had no clue how much time was left,” Jansen said about her miss. “(Mowbray) was there and … when it went in I just screamed.
“It’s a huge win.”
Oak Harbor, the North Division’s No. 4 seed, attacked the basket and rattled a youthful Jackson squad.
Trailing by eight heading into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats fed Jansen on the block. The 6-foot, 2-inch senior post scored eight points during a 5-minute, 12-2 Oak Harbor run. Jansen’s turnaround jumper from the right side tied the score at 45-45 and she gave the Wildcats a two-point lead 49 seconds later with a basket assisted by Cheyenne Tubo.
“At the end of the third we challenged our seniors,” Oak Harbor head coach Brett McLeod said. “I thought Jennifer (Jansen) was one of those players who came up huge.”
Jansen finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Mowbray scored 13 and junior sharpshooter Jessica Denmon had a game-high 18 for Oak Harbor.
Jackson, led by junior Erin Feeney’s eight third-quarter points, outscored Oak Harbor 21-11 in the third, but the Wildcats turned the table and won the fourth 17-8. Feeney finished with a team-high 15 points for Jackson.
“I liked the way we rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter,” McLeod said.
Leigh-Ann Haataja, a 6-foot-2 sophomore post, played admirably for the Timberwolves. Haataja recorded a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds and her presence in the middle kept the game close in the first half and helped offset Jackson’s uncharacteristic performance.
“She’s (Haataja) improved a lot this year,” Jackson head coach Jeannie Thompson said. “We were able to lean on her.”
The Timberwolves, who had won four-straight games heading into the contest, feature eight underclassmen and just four juniors.
“Our youth showed tonight,” Thompson said. “With no seniors, you expect some youthful lumps … it’s double-elimination so we’ll have to battle back.”
Jackson did have a final opportunity to win, Sam’s half-court heave rattled in-and-out as the buzzer sounded.
“That last one, I really had to hold my breath,” Oak Harbor’s McLeod said.
The Wildcats advance to face Kamiak at 8 p.m. Saturday at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
At Jackson H.S.
Oak Harbor12121117—52
Jackson814218—51
Oak Harbor—Tubo 0, Ferguson 0, Mowbray 13, Henricksen 2, Denmon 18, Abadesco 0, Fisken 2, Jansen 17. Jackson—Sam 6, Feeney 15, M. McArthur 0, Bylsma 2, Guzman 2, King 0, Stoffel 12, Haataja 14. 3-pointers—Denmon 2, Feeney 2. Records—Oak Harbor 14-7 overall. Jackson 17-4.
