POULSBO — The North Kitsap boys basketball roster is back to full capacity and the Vikes’ defense is secure, but as a team, energy is lacking.

The Vikings have yet to pick up a win this season.

The team has shown potential in spots, said NK coach Derek Anderson, but seems to run out of steam in one form or another. Against Central Kitsap Dec. 16, points and rebounding were the shortcomings of a 49-40 loss.

Kevin Masnayon, who ended with 19 points, started the game for NK with a pair of three-pointers. But by the second half, the Viking offense had run dry.

Central’s points came off the glass in the first half. Despite NK’s opening run, the Cougars had pulled within one utilizing second-chance opportunities. When Mike Simpkins scored the go-ahead bucket from the post, CK was psyched.

The Cougars had taken a 15-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.

“We can’t be timid,” Anderson said of the Viking offense. “We’re not attacking enough. We can’t be spectators on offense.”

“Attack, attack, attack,” he encouraged the team in the huddle before the second quarter.

Masnayon echoed Anderson’s instruction starting the second frame with a drive for an easy two. Then he followed-up with a three-pointer to pull NK within two, 15-17.

Steals created most of the purple offense during the second quarter, and each team’s defensive efforts kept the game close for the duration of the quarter.

The Cougars led 26-24 at the half.

“Not boxing-out, big problem; getting out-hustled, big problem,” Anderson said of North’s struggles. “But defensively, this is the best game we’ve had.”

North’s defense hassled the Cougars into a myriad of missed shots, but CK continued to get points off offensive rebounds in the second half.

Masnayon revved NK out of the half with his third triple of the game but CK’s Michael Dorsey answered with a three-pointer of his own to put the Cougs on top by five.

Starving for vigor, North’s offense came to a stand-still when Masnayon was forced to the bench with three fouls midway through the third. The Vikings’ defense kept them close as they were hanging on at the end of the third, 36-33.

But the purple offense never came around.

Simpkins boosted CK to a seven-point lead with a put-back and there was no looking back for the Cougs.

Along with Masnayon’s efforts, Eric Schippers contributed 11 from the post. Simpkins and Jordan Deck each scored 14 for CK, and JR Gordon added 13 including 3-of-4 free throws in the fourth as the Cougars improved to 2-0 in the NL Bridge.

North didn’t have much time to recuperate as they were back in action against non-league opponent Bainbridge at Key Arena in Seattle Monday.