KINGSTON — For the Kingston Cavaliers girls’ basketball team, it was a season of firsts.

Early on, it was beating Central Kitsap Junior High for the first time in Kingston’s history. Then, it was going on the road to beat CKJH, the first time in Coach Tony Chisholm’s career. Finally, passing the Cavs’ previous best record — a 9-3 season four years ago — to the 11-0 mark, with the Cavalier girls facing a Ridgetop Raiders team determined to knock off their hopes of a perfect season.

But Ridgetop would be denied.

A 40-30 win Monday sealed the dream for the Cavaliers, capping a perfect 12-0 season.

“This is the greatest win I’ve ever been a part of,” Chisholm said. “This will go down forever in the history of Kingston basketball.”

The win is also Kingston’s third championship in three years, succeeding baseball two years ago and volleyball last year.

For the Cavs, Riley Watts led all scorers with 11 points and added 4 steals and 5 rebounds. Cavalier Jade Niemeyer put in 10 points and continued her dominance off the glass this year with 8 rebounds. And Kingston’s Natalie Warford scored 8 points and 8 rebounds in the game, in what Coach Chisholm called “…the first time I’ve ever seen her go aggressively to the basket.”

Ridgetop Coach Devin Huff said he believed both teams notched solid performances, but that Kingston wanted it a little more.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my girls,” Huff said. “This was just a great girls basketball game. And Kingston played their hearts out today.”

Kingston narrowly beat Ridgetop on the Raiders’ home floor previously March 9 — 42-37 — and Coach Chisholm said his team was prepared for a fight.

“We knew it was going to be a tight game,” Chisholm said. “We didn’t want one girl to beat us.”

That ‘one girl’ for Ridgetop was Coty Ettl, who scored 15 points in the Raider loss. But it wasn’t enough to get to the Cavs, who, as a team, grabbed 35 rebounds in the contest.

Kingston started off with nerves showing, missing some easy buckets in the first quarter. After the first, the Cavs held a narrow lead at 11-7, propelled by the hustle of Brenna Lander and scoring from Warford.

“You always get the best out of Brenna (Lander),” Chisholm said. “We knew we could count on her.”

Kingston began to pull away in the second off scores from Joi and Jade Niemeyer and Lander. Jade Niemeyer, pulled out of the game by Chisholm early on, began to settle in to her traditional aggressive style of scoring inside and getting key rebounds.

“After Jade (Niemeyer) calmed down, she hit some key shots for us,” Chisholm said.

“I was so nervous,” Jade Niemeyer said. “But Chiz told me to settle down and play my game. I just did what I needed to do.”

A three-pointer by Ettl kept Ridgetop in the game going into half-time, down 19-15 to Kingston.

Ridgetop made its run in the third, going up 25-23 off a jumper by Ettl. But two quick fast break scores by Warford and Watts put the Cavs back on top to end the third at 27-25.

Kingston ran away with the game in the fourth, spurred by Watts and Jade Niemeyer scores.

“Riley (Watts) and Jade (Niemeyer) really stepped up,” said Cavalier Erin Nicol, who had three steals in the game.

Frustration came out for the Raiders, when Ridgetop’s Pepper Fanwa was ejected from the game for two technical fouls.

At the end of the contest, assistant coach Melody Ejde said the game was indicative of Kingston’s entire season — playing team defense.

“These girls played awesome defense,” Ejde said. “They put their all into this.”

Chisholm also credited bringing on board assistant coach Ejde this year as helping to bring about the perfect season, aiding in coaching the girls on a more one-on-one basis.

For Jade Niemeyer, the win is a dream come true.

“I was thinking 20 minutes before our first game of the season that going 12-0 was a dream,” Niemeyer said. “But as the season went on, that dream was becoming closer to a reality.”

“This was my dream since the third grade,” she added. “Now I have to get a new dream.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Cavalier Riley Watts added. “We all wanted it so bad.”

Cavalier Lander said she credits Coach Chisholm — “Chiz” as he is known to his girls — for their perfect season.

“Chiz pushed us so hard in practice,” said Cavalier Brenna Lander. “We brought so much heart in practice — our team deserves this.”

After the game, Chisholm allowed each of his varsity players to cut down one strand of twine on the hoop’s net — a ceremonial tradition of championship teams.

“It’s been a fun ride,” Chisholm said to the crowd in attendance. “I want to say thanks to all of the parents.”

Chisholm went on to say that for the Little City by the Sea, sports in the area could have a bright future.

“The community of Kingston has a championship,” Chisholm said. “Maybe when you bring in Kingston High School, we can bring some more.” By JOSH FARLEY

Staff Writer

KINGSTON — For the Kingston Cavaliers girls’ basketball team, it was a season of firsts.

Early on, it was beating Central Kitsap Junior High for the first time in Kingston’s history. Then, it was going on the road to beat CKJH, the first time in Coach Tony Chisholm’s career. Finally, passing the Cavs’ previous best record — a 9-3 season four years ago — to the 11-0 mark, with the Cavalier girls facing a Ridgetop Raiders team determined to knock off their hopes of a perfect season.

But Ridgetop would be denied.

A 40-30 win Monday sealed the dream for the Cavaliers, capping a perfect 12-0 season.

“This is the greatest win I’ve ever been a part of,” Chisholm said. “This will go down forever in the history of Kingston basketball.”

The win is also Kingston’s third championship in three years, succeeding baseball two years ago and volleyball last year.

For the Cavs, Riley Watts led all scorers with 11 points and added 4 steals and 5 rebounds. Cavalier Jade Niemeyer put in 10 points and continued her dominance off the glass this year with 8 rebounds. And Kingston’s Natalie Warford scored 8 points and 8 rebounds in the game, in what Coach Chisholm called “…the first time I’ve ever seen her go aggressively to the basket.”

Ridgetop Coach Devin Huff said he believed both teams notched solid performances, but that Kingston wanted it a little more.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my girls,” Huff said. “This was just a great girls basketball game. And Kingston played their hearts out today.”

Kingston narrowly beat Ridgetop on the Raiders’ home floor previously March 9 — 42-37 — and Coach Chisholm said his team was prepared for a fight.

“We knew it was going to be a tight game,” Chisholm said. “We didn’t want one girl to beat us.”

That ‘one girl’ for Ridgetop was Coty Ettl, who scored 15 points in the Raider loss. But it wasn’t enough to get to the Cavs, who, as a team, grabbed 35 rebounds in the contest.

Kingston started off with nerves showing, missing some easy buckets in the first quarter. After the first, the Cavs held a narrow lead at 11-7, propelled by the hustle of Brenna Lander and scoring from Warford.

“You always get the best out of Brenna (Lander),” Chisholm said. “We knew we could count on her.”

Kingston began to pull away in the second off scores from Joi and Jade Niemeyer and Lander. Jade Niemeyer, pulled out of the game by Chisholm early on, began to settle in to her traditional aggressive style of scoring inside and getting key rebounds.

“After Jade (Niemeyer) calmed down, she hit some key shots for us,” Chisholm said.

“I was so nervous,” Jade Niemeyer said. “But Chiz told me to settle down and play my game. I just did what I needed to do.”

A three-pointer by Ettl kept Ridgetop in the game going into half-time, down 19-15 to Kingston.

Ridgetop made its run in the third, going up 25-23 off a jumper by Ettl. But two quick fast break scores by Warford and Watts put the Cavs back on top to end the third at 27-25.

Kingston ran away with the game in the fourth, spurred by Watts and Jade Niemeyer scores.

“Riley (Watts) and Jade (Niemeyer) really stepped up,” said Cavalier Erin Nicol, who had three steals in the game.

Frustration came out for the Raiders, when Ridgetop’s Pepper Fanwa was ejected from the game for two technical fouls.

At the end of the contest, assistant coach Melody Ejde said the game was indicative of Kingston’s entire season — playing team defense.

“These girls played awesome defense,” Ejde said. “They put their all into this.”

Chisholm also credited bringing on board assistant coach Ejde this year as helping to bring about the perfect season, aiding in coaching the girls on a more one-on-one basis.

For Jade Niemeyer, the win is a dream come true.

“I was thinking 20 minutes before our first game of the season that going 12-0 was a dream,” Niemeyer said. “But as the season went on, that dream was becoming closer to a reality.”

“This was my dream since the third grade,” she added. “Now I have to get a new dream.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Cavalier Riley Watts added. “We all wanted it so bad.”

Cavalier Lander said she credits Coach Chisholm — “Chiz” as he is known to his girls — for their perfect season.

“Chiz pushed us so hard in practice,” said Cavalier Brenna Lander. “We brought so much heart in practice — our team deserves this.”

After the game, Chisholm allowed each of his varsity players to cut down one strand of twine on the hoop’s net — a ceremonial tradition of championship teams.

“It’s been a fun ride,” Chisholm said to the crowd in attendance. “I want to say thanks to all of the parents.”

Chisholm went on to say that for the Little City by the Sea, sports in the area could have a bright future.

“The community of Kingston has a championship,” Chisholm said. “Maybe when you bring in Kingston High School, we can bring some more.” By JOSH FARLEY

Staff Writer

KINGSTON — For the Kingston Cavaliers girls’ basketball team, it was a season of firsts.

Early on, it was beating Central Kitsap Junior High for the first time in Kingston’s history. Then, it was going on the road to beat CKJH, the first time in Coach Tony Chisholm’s career. Finally, passing the Cavs’ previous best record — a 9-3 season four years ago — to the 11-0 mark, with the Cavalier girls facing a Ridgetop Raiders team determined to knock off their hopes of a perfect season.

But Ridgetop would be denied.

A 40-30 win Monday sealed the dream for the Cavaliers, capping a perfect 12-0 season.

“This is the greatest win I’ve ever been a part of,” Chisholm said. “This will go down forever in the history of Kingston basketball.”

The win is also Kingston’s third championship in three years, succeeding baseball two years ago and volleyball last year.

For the Cavs, Riley Watts led all scorers with 11 points and added 4 steals and 5 rebounds. Cavalier Jade Niemeyer put in 10 points and continued her dominance off the glass this year with 8 rebounds. And Kingston’s Natalie Warford scored 8 points and 8 rebounds in the game, in what Coach Chisholm called “…the first time I’ve ever seen her go aggressively to the basket.”

Ridgetop Coach Devin Huff said he believed both teams notched solid performances, but that Kingston wanted it a little more.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my girls,” Huff said. “This was just a great girls basketball game. And Kingston played their hearts out today.”

Kingston narrowly beat Ridgetop on the Raiders’ home floor previously March 9 — 42-37 — and Coach Chisholm said his team was prepared for a fight.

“We knew it was going to be a tight game,” Chisholm said. “We didn’t want one girl to beat us.”

That ‘one girl’ for Ridgetop was Coty Ettl, who scored 15 points in the Raider loss. But it wasn’t enough to get to the Cavs, who, as a team, grabbed 35 rebounds in the contest.

Kingston started off with nerves showing, missing some easy buckets in the first quarter. After the first, the Cavs held a narrow lead at 11-7, propelled by the hustle of Brenna Lander and scoring from Warford.

“You always get the best out of Brenna (Lander),” Chisholm said. “We knew we could count on her.”

Kingston began to pull away in the second off scores from Joi and Jade Niemeyer and Lander. Jade Niemeyer, pulled out of the game by Chisholm early on, began to settle in to her traditional aggressive style of scoring inside and getting key rebounds.

“After Jade (Niemeyer) calmed down, she hit some key shots for us,” Chisholm said.

“I was so nervous,” Jade Niemeyer said. “But Chiz told me to settle down and play my game. I just did what I needed to do.”

A three-pointer by Ettl kept Ridgetop in the game going into half-time, down 19-15 to Kingston.

Ridgetop made its run in the third, going up 25-23 off a jumper by Ettl. But two quick fast break scores by Warford and Watts put the Cavs back on top to end the third at 27-25.

Kingston ran away with the game in the fourth, spurred by Watts and Jade Niemeyer scores.

“Riley (Watts) and Jade (Niemeyer) really stepped up,” said Cavalier Erin Nicol, who had three steals in the game.

Frustration came out for the Raiders, when Ridgetop’s Pepper Fanwa was ejected from the game for two technical fouls.

At the end of the contest, assistant coach Melody Ejde said the game was indicative of Kingston’s entire season — playing team defense.

“These girls played awesome defense,” Ejde said. “They put their all into this.”

Chisholm also credited bringing on board assistant coach Ejde this year as helping to bring about the perfect season, aiding in coaching the girls on a more one-on-one basis.

For Jade Niemeyer, the win is a dream come true.

“I was thinking 20 minutes before our first game of the season that going 12-0 was a dream,” Niemeyer said. “But as the season went on, that dream was becoming closer to a reality.”

“This was my dream since the third grade,” she added. “Now I have to get a new dream.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Cavalier Riley Watts added. “We all wanted it so bad.”

Cavalier Lander said she credits Coach Chisholm — “Chiz” as he is known to his girls — for their perfect season.

“Chiz pushed us so hard in practice,” said Cavalier Brenna Lander. “We brought so much heart in practice — our team deserves this.”

After the game, Chisholm allowed each of his varsity players to cut down one strand of twine on the hoop’s net — a ceremonial tradition of championship teams.

“It’s been a fun ride,” Chisholm said to the crowd in attendance. “I want to say thanks to all of the parents.”

Chisholm went on to say that for the Little City by the Sea, sports in the area could have a bright future.

“The community of Kingston has a championship,” Chisholm said. “Maybe when you bring in Kingston High School, we can bring some more.”