POULSBO — The Lady Vikings basketball team scored its first league win Wednesday — as well as its highest point total of the season — as NK rolled to victory, 59-41.
The win gives the Vikings (1-6 in league, 3-10 overall) a boost as the team enters the second half of the season. And Vikes’ coach Dan Weedin is confident that the girls can fight their way back into contention.
“Quite frankly, all the games, with the exception of Bremerton, have been close,” Weedin said. “Now, we have a chance to climb back into this thing.”
North got another solid effort from Jasmine Hill, who scored 14 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter alone.
“She’s definitely been on a roll,” Weedin said.
The Vikings also dominated inside the paint, as forwards Jenna Reed and Katie Swanlund used a physical presence on both ends of the floor. Reed scored 11 and brought down nine rebounds and Swanlund scored 14 points and added nine rebounds of her own.
Vikes’ Guard Rachel Kramer added 7 points and four assists.
North Kitsap and Olympic played toe-to-toe in the first half, with North keeping only a 1-point lead after periods one and two. Oly’s Lauren Haas, who led all scorers with 18 points, single-handedly helped the Trojans stay in the game, nailing threes when it looked as if North would pull out in front.
North looked to be up 14-10 after the first quarter but Oly’s Lindsay Neste nailed a buzzer-beater from near half-court to pull within 1 point of the Vikes.
In the second period, the Vikings still couldn’t quite shake the Trojans. Oly’s eight 3-pointers on the night — five in the first half — kept the team alive.
Weedin said North didn’t take advantage of opportunities in the half — but the second would prove to be much better for the Vikes.
“I thought we were a little flat,” Weedin said. “We chatted over the half and we came out much more passionate.”
NK held Oly to just 4 points in the third quarter, and quickly rolled to a big lead — and the threes stopped falling for Olympic.
NK’s junior varsity was also successful, posting a 53-36 victory of the Trojans.
The Lady Vikings are at home next week, at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 versus Bremerton and at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 versus Shelton. Junior varsity starts at 5:30 p.m.
