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 last Wednesday’s Class 4A Narrows League contest with the Shelton Highclimbers.

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

Tides senior post Cyrus Ward, who had eight rebounds and a game-high 27 points, 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. He scored 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 he sustained a stress fracture in his back two years ago, but he’s feeling good 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, who took 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 at 7 p.m. Friday 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 personal goal is to be a complementary scorer, but the players know wins will come if they play 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.”

Sports Editor Neil Pierson can be reached at 253-853-9246 or by email at neil.pierson@gateline.com. Follow him on Twitter, @gateway_neil.