The Gig Harbor Tides boys basketball team didn't overlook the Shelton Highclimbers Wednesday night, and the result was their largest margin of victory this season.

Gig Harbor got a season-high 27 points from senior Cyrus Ward, and the Tides overwhelmed the Highclimbers by a 76-36 score.

The Tides return to the court Friday at 7 p.m. against Mount Tahoma — another struggling team that they should beat — and they're looking forward to Monday's home matchup with close rival Bellarmine Prep. Bellarmine, which had been the state's No. 1 team, lost to Olympia on Wednesday.

Gig Harbor junior guard Jared Murphy said the Tides are looking to avenge a 47-46 defeat to the Lions in December, a game in which two last-second free throws for Bellarmine were the decisive factor.

"It was a very, very tough loss to the whole team," Murphy said. "We've been practicing — in games and in practices — just to get ready for the Bellarmine game. "It's a huge rivalry game, it's going to be packed (in the gym), and if it works out, we'll come out in that game and give it our all and take the win."

Here's a photo gallery from Gig Harbor's win over Shelton, and below is the story that will appear in our Feb. 1 print issue.

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The last thing the Gig Harbor Tides boys basketball team can afford as it tries to salvage the rest of its season is an upset loss, and the Tides made sure that didn’t happen in Wednesday’s Class 4A Narrows League contest with the Shelton Highclimbers.

Gig Harbor played well from the opening tip, racing out to a 25-point halftime lead and putting 10 players on the scoresheet in a 76-36 blowout of the last-place Highclimbers at John Gorrow Gymnasium.

Senior post Cyrus Ward, who had eight rebounds and a game-high 27 points for the Tides, said the contest was helpful in terms of giving the whole team confidence.

“It’s always a fun game to play,” he said of taking the floor against an undersized Shelton squad. “We could use the chance for guys who don’t get to play a whole lot to get in there and get some points.”

The 6-foot-5 Ward dominated under the hoop for most of the game, scoring the majority of his points on an array of post-up moves and transition layups.

The Tides (7-7 overall, 4-4 league) also got strong performances from other players, including junior guard Jared Murphy, who got the start over senior Colby Oatridge and compiled six points and seven assists.

Murphy has struggled with his health since sustaining a stress fracture in his back two years ago, but he’s feeling good now and has been an energizing force for Gig Harbor in his first varsity season.

“I’m glad to be out here and playing and having fun, trying to help the team win,” Murphy said. “We’re really hungry, and we want it more than ever.”

Gig Harbor outmatched Shelton (3-11, 0-8) in most facets of the game, even though it shot only 30-for-70 (43 percent) from the floor. The Tides hit 11-of-13 free throws, grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, and committed only seven turnovers.

Beau Glover dished out a team-high nine assists, and Nick Gagliardi, taking the place of Jared Anderson in a smaller starting lineup, tied Ward with a team-high eight rebounds.

Even senior guard Conor White got some playing time in the fourth quarter, and that was exciting for the Tides.

“He hasn’t seen much playing time,” Ward said, “but he got in there, got a few boards, took some nice shots.”

Gig Harbor led 22-8 after one quarter as Ward scored 12 points. Any hopes of Shelton staying in the game were quickly erased, as the Tides went on an 11-0 run to start the second period and led 42-17 at the half.

The Tides trail South Kitsap by a game for the league’s fourth and final spot to the district tournament, and the teams meet at Gig Harbor on Feb. 3 in a crucial contest.

Ward, who was out of the lineup for a couple weeks with an illness, said he is feeling completely healthy now and looks forward to having an increased impact for the Tides as they finish the regular season. The team can thank its practice sessions for the improved play, he added.

“They’ve definitely been a lot more intense,” Ward said. “We’ve really got to go after it if we’re going to have a chance to make the playoffs.”

Murphy said his major personal goal is trying to be a complementary scorer, but the players know wins are largely reliant on  strong team defense.

“We can do better — we can always do better,” he said. “We started to slack a little bit, but I feel like we’re getting better now, as the Stadium game  (a 74-73 overtime win) and this game showed.

“I feel like we’re getting better, and I feel like once our defense gets better, our offense will take care of itself.”