Patton’s 34 Points Lift South Whidbey Over Oak Harbor

Sterling Patton poured in 34 points, draining eight three pointers, to help visiting South Whidbey High School defeat Oak Harbor 79 to 65 on December 13. The victory moved the Falcons to a 5 to 0 record as they prepare for four more non league games, three on the road, before opening North Sound Conference play at Sultan on January 3.

South Whidbey jumped early, hitting its first five shots and building leads of 11 to 3 and 13 to 5 as Patton hit two early long range shots. Oak Harbor answered and briefly led 16 to 14 before a Patton three pointer bookended by baskets from Levi Buck and Carson Wright sent the Falcons ahead 21 to 17 after the first quarter.

Patton continued to heat up in the second quarter, scoring 11 points and finishing one basket on a feed from guard Nick Young as South Whidbey led 40 to 23 with 1 minute 47 seconds left in the half. Oak Harbor closed the period on a 7 to 2 run and used momentum to cut the deficit to 48 to 45 early in the third quarter. Patton hit two more long range shots to push the Falcons to 55 to 48 entering the fourth.

The Wildcats got to within 61 to 55 with 6 minutes 5 seconds left, but Patton answered with two more three pointers and South Whidbey stretched the lead to double digits for the remainder. Young finished with 17 points, Buck and Carson Wright each had 10, Jacob Ng added 6 and Kole Nelson had 2. Buck also grabbed key rebounds and recorded blocked shots, and scored 8 points in the fourth quarter to help close out the game.

Coach Greg Turcott reflected on the contest saying, "It was a battle," and added, "Oak Harbor came out and played a great second half. It was one of those games where you see what you are made of. We didn't panic and stayed tough. We made some adjustments on what they were doing on the court."

Beyond the scoreboard, the game highlights the role high school athletics play in Island County life. Local games bring neighbors together, support adolescent physical and mental health, and provide visible opportunities for teamwork and discipline. The stretch of road games and the upcoming conference schedule also spotlight issues of equity in school sports, including access to transportation, balanced funding for programs, and inclusive opportunities for students from all backgrounds. As the season continues, these teams will carry community hopes and the practical challenges of sustaining youth sports across Island County.