POULSBO — After Kingston’s 54-37 win over its rivals the Poulsbo Panthers Wednesday, the Cavaliers adopted a new rallying cry.

“3-0 and nine to go,” chanted the Cavs.

Kingston, which went undefeated a year ago and won its junior high league, is looking for a repeat this year. With the Poulsbo win, the team is already a fourth of the way there.

“They’re tough. Solid,” said PJH coach Karla DeVries of the Kingston team. “And they were definitely more composed.”

Leading the way for Kingston was post Riley Watts, who had 11, along with players Erin Nicol and Aubin Duncan, who each had nine points.

Cavs’ coach Tony Chisholm credited Watts and Duncan with great games and also praised Nicol and Kira Markey as the players that “make the team go.”

“They’re the diesel to our engine,” he said. “We’ve got to have them on the floor.”

After winning its first two games, Poulsbo is now 3-1 on the season. Though the Cavs had the upper hand Wednesday, coach Chisholm said his team will still be weary of the Panthers next time they lock horns again in the Little City by the Sea March 17.

“Karla’s a very good coach,” Chisholm said of his Poulsbo counterpart. “And whenever I go up against Karla, I have to bring my A game. She’s like me, she coaches hard.”

Poulsbo received solid performances from Jordan Jewett, who had seven points, and Darcey Hughes, who had nine. But the Cavs stifled the Panthers’ leading scorer thus far in the season, Kellie Talpin, holding her to six points.

“They did a great job of taking us out of our offense,” DeVries said. “And we did a poor job of executing.”

So, is a Kingston 12-0 repeat inevitable? Chisholm said he likes the team’s chances, but wants to take each game as it comes.

He added, however, that even if his team does drop a game or two this season, the squad can still be in contention to win the league.

But the worst thing that could happen, he said, is if the Cavs lose their composure due to a loss.

“We can’t lose that positive attitude,” he said.