POULSBO — More options lead to more opportunities.

The Kingston Junior High Cavaliers took advantage of both at the final boys’ basketball North End rivalry against the Poulsbo Panthers Thursday. Though the contest was devoid of the usual overtime period, it did not lack excitement.

“It’s like electricity,” said Mr. Electric himself, KJH coach Tony Chisholm. “The whole gym lights up, and its not just the players, it’s the fans, the coaches … everybody.”

As usual, the North End junior high teams battled in front of a standing-room only crowd at Poulsbo’s gym. The game started on a high note for both teams as Cody Thurmond sunk a triple for the Panthers, followed almost directly by a three-pointer from Dustin Murr at the other end.

The first quarter then dissolved into a fast-paced, high-energy ebb and flow.

Murr followed up with another triple — his second of four in the first frame — to put the Cavs up by six, while Poulsbo tried to find a rhythm on offense. But Kingston’s hyped-up defense was too busy stealing the ball to allow Poulsbo any type of cycle. After a sweet no-look dish from Cav Taylor Chisholm to Andy Smith, Kingston carried a bucketful of energy and a 20-7 lead as the first quarter wound down.

Kingston’s defense was the team’s gasoline for most of the game.

Into the second quarter, Poulsbo still struggled out of the offensive set, while trying to get the ball to their bread-and-butter Taylor Hoffer. The Cavs’ zone defense was quick to collapse on the big man, and enjoyed a plethora of steals as a result.

“(Preston) Elzey played good, he got into a little bit of foul trouble but he made Hoffer adjust his game,” coach Chisholm said. “And it wasn’t just him, our guards helped out, too.”

Halfway through the second frame, the Panthers flipped their defensive switch which ignited the blue and white offense as well as the gym. As the clocked ticked, PJH put together a smooth 6-0 run to pull the score back within single digits, 20-26, at halftime.

With momentum literally equal out of the break, the teams started the second half slow. With 5:19 left in a quiet third quarter, the Panthers were within two, 24-26.

At 3:30 the Cavs’ Kyle Erickson sunk a three from the wing to separate the score, while Hoffer kept the Panthers at pace with post presence galore. With six points — four off of offensive rebounds — Hoffer lifted the Panthers back within one, and the teams struggled in and out of a tie, closing the quarter with Poulsbo up 35-33.

“The key to the game for us was to keep it close,” Thurmond said.

But in the fourth quarter, Erickson hoisted the Cavs offense onto his back and took the ball to the rack where he found his way to the free-throw line more than once. Though Kingston’s defense was mostly rock-steady, the teams traded baskets throughout the first half of the final frame and the game was tied at 40 with just over five minutes left.

“They came out hot early and we battled back,” said Poulsbo coach Clary Carlsen. “I commend our guys for battling but in the end, we just missed too many foul shots.”

The final minutes of the game were in fact decided at the stripe. Kingston’s shots swished and Poulsbo was dismissed by a final tally of 55-45.

“Going into the game, we knew it’d be close. It’s always a classic battle,” Chisholm said.

When asked what was Kingston’s key to the game he replied, “Defense! It’s always defense.”

As the saying goes, defense wins championships, and each team will now have a clean slate headed into the junior high post-season. PJH and KJH will compete in a four-team tourney with Central Kitsap and Marcus Whitman starting next week.

The Panthers travel to CK Jan. 17 and Kingston will host Marcus Whitman Jan. 17. Both games are at 3 p.m.