POULSBO — The scoreboard didn’t get a lot of use in a recent girls’ basketball game hosted by Poulsbo Parks and Recreation — but the players did.

The game, which was played at Fairview, was led by Central Kitsap 5-2 after eight minutes had passed. North Kitsap, Central’s opponent, managed three more points at the half, but the score when the two teams huddled was 16-5.

But if the games aren’t always high-octane, they certainly are fun; at halftime, the girls had enough half-court passes, turnaround jump shots, and frenzied dribbling for a week’s worth of stories — which was evident by their happy chatter at halftime.

That fits in with the girls’ league formed by Poulsbo Parks and Recreation. The league emphasizes learning and fun, and so far the mix has been successful, with two more North Kitsap teams added this year.

Chris Knowles, who coaches the North Kitsap team made up of mostly eighth and ninth-grade girls, said the season has been a success so far.

“We’re having a lot of fun,” said Knowles. “The girls are learning a lot and are eager to participate.”

He said, “It’s a rec league, so the attitude is a little more relaxed.”

Rather than emphasizing records, Knowles has been emphasizing the basics: dribbling, shooting, defensive drills.

The team plays a pair of games a week, he said, so there isn’t always a lot of time to practice. But the girls just want to play, he said.

“It’s frustrating when you don’t win,” he said, “but they’re having a great time.”

Before the game, the girls, all wearing purple-and-gold NK jerseys, worked on their dribbling, swirling around each other and occasionally firing up shots.

Kingston Junior High student Kelly Dolen is one of the participants. She said she has learned a lot this year.

“When we were all young, we used to just play,” she said. “Now we have plays.”

Many of the girls, Dolen said, have been playing together since they were in third grade.

This fall, the girls said, they have been working on their skills.

“It’s fun,” said Chelsey Rahier. “I’ve worked on my shooting and dribbling.”

Leslie Burdick was doing the same thing.

“I can dribble better,” she said. “I can shoot. I can pass.”

Joe Schiel, the Poulsbo Parks and Recreation activities director, said the league’s relaxed feel and focus on learning is great for the nine teams and 80 kids that are in it.

“Everyone’s trying to win,” he said, “but it’s not the overriding factor out there.”

Schiel, who coaches one of the teams himself, said of the players, “They just want to play basketball. And that’s what the league’s for … there are some kids who just want to go play.”

The league offers each team ten games, two a week, and plays its games in junior high gyms.

Schiel is looking forward to spring, when the league will continue, and next fall. The word is just getting out to kids in Central Kitsap, he said.

“I think during spring and fall, we’ll really get a response,” he said.