SEATTLE — A rivalry is still a rivalry no matter where the game is played.

The Bainbridge boys basketball team crossed the Sound instead of the bridge and defeated the North Kitsap Vikings 64-44 at the Key Arena in Seattle on Dec. 19.

Bainbridge guard Steven Gray led all scorers with 29 points, shooting 6 for 7 in the second half for 14 points.

“I think in the first quarter we got off slow,” said NK head coach Derek Anderson. “I think we were a little intimidated by who ‘Bainbridge,’ quote-unquote, is.”

Chris Kelly got it moving for Bainbridge by scoring four points on a jumper and going even on foul shots.

After Chris Zeringer hit a three, Spartans guard John Bruns countered with a three of his own, breaking the Spartans out of a mini-slump. Gray led the rest of the way, scoring eight in the first quarter to put Bainbridge in a comfortable position.

In the second, North Kitsap kept hanging around as Eric Schippers, Steven Kirk and Kevin Masnayon chipped away at the lead, taking it down to seven at the half and holding Bainbridge to just nine points.

Anderson was pleased with his kids’ improved play in the quarter.

“I thought we played real well,” he said. “(But) I told my kids ‘There’s two halves to a game, so you gotta come out strong in the third quarter.’”

Instead, it was the Spartans who came out strong, as Gray and Coby Gibler combined for the first eight points of the third quarter to put the Spartans up 38-23. Gray scored on two jumpers, while Gibler went inside as the Spartans utilized their passing game to the fullest.

Charlie Fick and Caleb Davis added some points in the paint while John Bruns hit two three pointers to blow the game wide open.

Anderson felt his team’s inexperience — none of the five seniors got any varsity playing time last year — and learning his new system showed out on the court.

“The kids play hard and they do everything I ask, but they’re still adjusting to me and I’m adjusting to them,” he said.

He was also impressed with Gray and Gibler, despite not being able to stop them.

“(Gray) is tough,” Anderson said. “So is Gibler.”

Zeringer led North Kitsap with 13 points, while Schippers finished with 12.

The Vikings return to action Dec. 28-29 at a holiday tournament in Camas before returning to North Kitsap to host Shelton Jan. 4.