MARYSVILLE After the Tomahawk junior varsity dispatched of Wesco North opponent Oak Harbor 60-25 Friday, Jan. 12, their varsity counterparts may have been given false hope of an easy victory.
The win came 72 hours after the Tommies defeated rival Arlington 66-57 on the road.
M-P jumped out to a 22-13 first-quarter lead over the Wildcats behind the combined 14 points of seniors Jared Stohl (9) and Nathan Lozeau (5).
Just when it appeared the Tommies were headed for an offensive explosion Oak Harbor opened the second quarter with a 12-0 run.
The Wildcats outscored the Tommies 21-6 to take a 34-28 advantage into the locker room.
Second-year coach Bary Gould said his squad may have gotten a little too comfortable with their nine-point lead.
We have a tendency to think about rolling over teams, he said afterward.
M-P turned the tables on the Wildcats by coming out in the third quarter and doubling up Oak Harbor 16-8 to regain the lead.
Stohl sank both free throws and drained a hoop to pull within six at 38-32 while classmate Nate Holthenrichs and Lozeau added baskets to make it a 38-36 deficit before Oak Harbor called a timeout with 3:14 remaining in the quarter.
Stohl tallied two more hoops and senior Ricky Holm drained the first of his clutch three three-pointers to give M-P their first lead at 43-42.
Lozeau added one of two free throws and the lead grew to 44-42 entering the final quarter of play.
Oak Harbor opened the fourth quarter with two hoops to regain the lead 46-44, but Lozeau, Holthenrichs and Holm combined to tie the game at 53-all with 3:28 left in the league contest.
With the small, yet vocal M-P student section cheering with the marching band, Lozeau and Holm each sank critical three-pointers to make the lead 59-55 before putting the game away at the free-throw line.
At halftime I told the guys we needed to prepare better mentally, Gould said. I told the guys we need to get ready for teams regardless of their record. I think it says a lot about the mind Caleb Koorm had a great game and was prepared to go against Big Nate, but I dont think Nathan prepared the same way.

At M-PHS

Oak Harbor 13 21 8 13 55
M-P 22 6 16 21 65

Oak Harbor Koorn 22, Leach 10, Rumble 6, Heidt 10, Lobbestael 7.
M-P Stohl 23, Thomason 2, Moser 2, Lozeau 15, Holthenrichs 14, Holm 9, Moser 2. 3-point goals Stohl 1, Lozeau 1, Holm 3, Lobbestael 1.
Records Oak Harbor 3-5 in league play and 4-7 overall. M-P 6-2, 10-2.