SILVERDALE — The Central Kitsap girls’ basketball team held the lead in Wednesday night’s contest against North Kitsap for just 17 seconds of the game’s 32 minutes.

But it was the most important 17 seconds of the game as CK (17-1, 13-0) held on to win a nail-biter, 35-32 in Silverdale. The loss also eliminated the Lady Vikings (7-12, 5-8) from playoff contention.

The Lady Cougs’ Randie Lee hit a three-pointer to put CK up 35-32 with just 2.5 seconds left in the game to set up the win.

“We’ll give up that shot,” North Kitsap coach Dan Weedin said. “Randie Lee made a great shot. That’s how teams win championships.”

The game was tight from start to finish, as the Lady Vikes game-long lead never surpassed nine points. In fact, North led 30-25 with three minutes left in the fourth before CK finished the game on a 7-2 run to win.

“That was kind of survival,” CK coach Denise Baxter said. “Just do what you have to do to get through it. (North Kitsap) played good defense, give them that. Their kids play hard.”

The Lady Vikes were able to lock down the inside, holding CK powerhouse Megan Hoisington, who averages 15 points and 9.5 boards per game, to just 11 points, although that total still led CK.

Weedin said the play of Katie Swanlund and Jenna Reed allowed them to remain in the game.

“She and Katie Swanlund are a great dynamic duo in the post,” Weedin said. “Jenna was our go-to on our last possession to tie it up. We made the decision to go to her and she pulled through and made the big shot for us.”

In the second half, CK was able to slowly get back within reach. For most of the third quarter, NK’s lead alternated between one and three points. Weedin said CK was able to slowly hit some outside shots to chip away at the lead.

“They’re a good team,” Weedin said. “They just hit more from outside in the second half than we did. I’ve got to give them credit.”

And although the Lady Vikings’ postseason hopes are dashed for this season, Weedin said with just four seniors graduating, North Kitsap should be ready to pick up where it left off with the end of this season. Specifically, he said the team’s stellar defense had been its anchor during the team’s run toward the post-season.

“It’s the same defense we’ve been playing the last four or five games,” Weedin said. “We held South Kitsap to 27 and beat Port Angeles. I don’t know if anyone has held CK to two points in the first quarter or 11 at half.”