POULSBO — The North Kitsap Lady Vikings basketball team only won four games all season last year to finish near the bottom of the Narrows’ League, Bridge Division.

Yet when you add up all the points scored by North Kitsap and those scored against NK — the difference is staggeringly small.

Only six points.

“We didn’t ever lose by much,” commented junior point-guard Rachael Kramer. “We just couldn’t quite finish.”

That leads one to wonder: if a few changes were made here and there on the hardwood, could last season have had an altogether different outcome?

It is doubtful that North’s coach Dan Weedin has gone more than a day since last season without contemplating that question. But for the six-year skipper and his squad, another chance to find out the answer is just around the corner — one the team is eagerly awaiting.

“They’re hungry,” Weedin said. “They ended summer (season) on a positive note. And they don’t like losing — they’ve learned from (last season).”

That positive note from summer is a successful 33-19 off-season record — one more reason to be optimistic. With the confidence found during the summer and the will to improve their 4-16 record of last year, the Vikings said their team is fired up.

“We gel a lot better (this year),” said senior Molly McCluskey. “This team is positive and we all share the same goal.”

“The people that are here really want to be here,” added senior Katie Swanlund.

Weedin also mentioned that all four of the team’s seniors have been two-year varsity letter-winners and that amount of experience will help win games throughout the season.

“This is a veteran group,” Weedin said. “We’ve come in more prepared this year than any group I’ve ever coached.”

“We all have talent and can play every position,” added junior Jasmine Hill.

Weedin will utilize point-guard Kramer and off-guard McCluskey to play a full court pressure defense and for perimeter shooting, while he relies on three post players — Swanlund, Hill and Jenna Reed down low. North’s game in the paint should prove formidable, as Reed was the team’s leading scorer a year ago, Swanlund was the second leading scorer and Hill lead the team in field goal percentage.

“We’ll work the ball inside,” Reed said. “And if they’re pressuring us down low, we have good shooters outside who can hit threes.”

Beyond that, Weedin said that the team will be playing an up-tempo, floor-to-floor game.

“We’re looking to run the ball, be fast-paced, and play all 84 feet of the court for all 32 minutes,” he said.