POULSBO — When the struggling Trojans came to Poulsbo with just one notch in the win column, it looked as if the Vikings had a good chance to make some noise.

However, at the end of a devastating 46-44 loss, NK’s coach Derek Anderson was at a loss for words.

With half of the league season under wraps, North (3-8, 1-5) and Olympic (2-10, 1-5) are both staring at a mountain of a task if either is to earn a berth into the post-season.

As shown in North Kitsap’s house, Friday the 13th, it would appear Oly has the upper hand.

The Trojans burst to a seven-point lead with two unanswered buckets and long-distance strike by Justin Turner, while North began the game with multiple turnovers and fickle shots that seemed to go in-and-out.

But thanks to some rigid defense, a Jeff Ottele steal transferred to a Dietreich Rios three-pointer to get the Vikes on the board. Chris Zeringer contributed to the cause with another triple at 3:06 and the Vikings were back in it.

But on the defensive glass, North was once again flat; Richard Smith boosted the Oly lead with a put-back, and the Trojans closed the quarter 11-6.

The second frame came in like a lamb.

Zeringer scored the first NK points of the quarter with a triple at 6:20, and North was mainly reliant on its outside game through the remainder of the half. Frustration appeared when the shots didn’t fall, but when NK’s lay-ups started bouncing out, the Vikings just wanted the half to end. Oly retreated to the locker room with a 19-17 lead.

The beginning of the second half stayed quiet until the Vikings found a flow. Just over two minutes into the third quarter, North went on a seven-point run and before the Trojans knew it, they were down 24-19.

However NK’s splendid start was overshadowed by a destructive end to the third quarter. Oly went on a run of its own — with the help of numerous NK turnovers — and were back on top by the end of the third, 32-31.

NK’s energy finally made its appearance in the final frame, as North’s defense got riled up and its offensive looked to create with the game on the line.

The teams battled back-and-forth with all eyes darting from the floor to the scoreboard and back again.

Oly remained ahead for much of the quarter and retained a 43-40 lead with one minute left in the game.

NK’s big man Eric Schippers sank two key free-throws to bring the Vikes within one. Then North’s pressure defense forced a turnover at mid-court and Oly sent Kevin Masnayon to the line with a chance to take the lead. But both free-throws rimmed out, and the Trojans rejoiced their first Narrows League win of the year, 44-46.

“We’ve got to figure out how to come together and really unify,” Schippers said of what is needed for an NK turn-around this season. “It’s a matter of keeping at it, we can’t give up right now, because this is when it gets the toughest.”

North hosts a crucial must-win tonight as Bremerton (5-7, 2-4) travels to North Kitsap, tip-off will be at 7 p.m.