KINGSTON — As it should be.

With both teams coming off wins and the stands packed with fans, the Kingston Junior High gym was chock-full of energy for the Dec. 7 North End rivalry. The Cavs were led by a strong outside game while the Panthers reveled in the post, therefore offsetting each other at the end regulation, 52-52.

Kingston’s offense jumped out for the first lead of the game. But the Panthers were close behind as the first quarter ended at 15-9.

“Our offense was working early and they couldn’t stop us,” said Cavs guard Dustin Murr. “We were just looking for the open shot.”

The Cavs’ versatile game showed at the start of the second quarter as they lengthened their lead to 10 after an open shot from the inside and a jumper from the outside. But by the end of the half, Kingston’s passes were starting to get lost in Poulsbo’s post defense and the Cavs hit a scoring lull. The Panthers took advantage, closing the gap to 23-19 at half-time.

Poulsbo moved even closer out of the gates of the second half; courtesy of big men Taylor Hoffer and Sam Weldin, the Panthers pulled within two as the Cavs started cold.

Two free throws from Kyle Erickson were the only points for Kingston early in the third quarter. He was the engine that ran the Cavs’ scoring machine and took control whenever Poulsbo took the lead.

“He’s that type of player that can take the game into his own hands,” Cavs coach Tony Chisholm said of Erickson. “Hoffer and Kyle are impact players. They are basketball players, they play all year-round, that’s what they do.”

Throughout the game, Hoffer handled the points for Poulsbo. Nearly every time he touched the ball, he was double- or triple-teamed down low, but he found a way to the rim regardless. He scored 41 points in the game, and by the fourth quarter he was going to the hole but getting the points at the free throw line.

The Panthers got the calls when they needed them late in the game, and more importantly, they converted. Eight of Hoffer’s 16 points of the fourth quarter came at the line when Poulsbo needed it the most.

“I felt that (Hoffer) could score and so that’s where I wanted to go,” said Poulsbo coach Clary Carlsen. “But I think we forced it sometimes.”

On the other end, Erickson was powerful with a fluid first step. As soon as the Panthers climbed atop the scoreboard, Erickson raced down the court and drew a foul for the free-throws to regain the lead. After Poulsbo couldn’t convert, he was back again, coast to coast for the lay-up to make the score 52-49.

When the Panthers evened the score with just over 30 seconds remaining in the fourth, coach Chisholm said he wanted Erickson, who scored 29 points on the game, to take the last shot. Anticipation mounted toward explosion, Erickson shimmied into the lane, but the final shot bounced too hard off the glass to force overtime.

Murr sealed the victory for the Cavs with a three-pointer from the wing that snapped the net and earned Kingston a four-point lead with 2:30 left in OT. Hoffer could only manage four points total in the overtime period and the Panthers were forced out of the game, 64-56.

“Both teams played their hearts out and it could’ve gone either way,” Carlsen said after the game. “I don’t think there are really any losers in a game like that, we just wound up on the lower end of the points.”

Hoffer led all scorers with 41, and Weldin chipped in eight for the Panthers. Erickson led Kingston with 29 and the trio of Murr, Preston Elsey and Taylor Chisholm each scored eight.

“I’ve seen improvement every game,” Erickson said of his team. “If we just keep improving, we’ll be there at the end of the season.”

The rivalry game was the second of back-to-back-to-back games as both teams played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The next game for each of the squads will be Dec. 13 as Kingston hosts Fairview and Poulsbo travels to Ridgetop.

(Above) Taylor Hoffer looks to maneuver through a solid wall of Preston Elsey. Despite Kingston’s defensive efforts in the post, Hoffer swooped his way to 41 points for the Panthers who lost in overtime 64-56.

(Below) Cody Thurmond (left) is developing into a play-maker for Poulsbo. He is starting to contribute not only in the point sense but in the form of intangible energy which opens things up for offensive opportunities.