TACOMA — North Kitsap Coach Aaron Nations was a junior at Marysville High in 1988, making a state run as a player. And most of his own squad today was in diapers — if they had even been born yet.

As the record’s banner in North Kitsap gym has indicated all season, the great ‘88 was indeed the last time the boys from Poulsbo enjoyed a stint at state. But regardless of the outcome this week, that banner will include the 2005 team among the greats in Viking history.

First things first, though — North has some March basketball to play.

“It’s a whole new season,” Nations said. “And our kids are just pumped.”

Following a heart-breaking 55-53 defeat Friday at Mt. Tahoma at the hands of the Prairie Falcons — one which the Vikes gave up a five point lead with only a 1:30 left — no one knew how NK would come to play Saturday in their last chance to draw a state berth.

Following a slow start, the Vikings stealthily remained behind Mount Tahoma at Foss High School Saturday, nipping at the heels of the T-Birds for most of the second half.

“We weren’t playing that well and got a little beat up,” said North’s Jared Prince, who rolled an ankle in the fourth period. “But we just got to it.”

Down 55-47 with three minutes to go, the Vikings did just that.

Jordan Henry hit back-to-back three pointers to single-handedly pull North within striking distance. Following a pair of Ryan Young free throws, North Kitsap pulled within two with less than two minutes to play.

That’s when the Vikings’ Jacob Gonzales — who has been scoring below his 19.2 season average in the district playoffs — hit the biggest three points of his career.

“The whole game I felt tight. But then coach yelled, ‘Don’t be afraid to shoot,’” Gonzales recalled of the waning minutes.

His smooth three-pointer from the left side of the arc put North up 58-57 and the T-Birds failed to score on their next possession. Once the buzzer sounded, the purple pandemonium took over both in the stands and on the floor.

They had certainly earned the chance to celebrate.

“We showed a lot of character after losing two heartbreakers and coming out here tonight getting the win,” Gonzales said.

Their first heartbreaker came versus Kentwood a week prior, when a three pointer at the buzzer ended North’s first attempt at state in the very same gym. The second came March 4 at Mount Tahoma versus the Prairie Falcons.

North held a 53-48 lead Friday with only 1:30 to go in the game, but the Vikings let it slip away, missing key free throws and giving up easy chances on the Falcons’ end. With 11.7 seconds to go in the game, North lost possession and the ball ended up in the hands of Prairie’s Brian Virgin, who scored a lay-in at the buzzer.

“I thought we played the worst first half of basketball we’ve played all season,” Nations said of the game with the Falcons. “We just didn’t come ready to play.”

Nations added that it was the first 20-plus turnover game for North Kitsap since the first five games of the season.

But Friday’s disappointment gave way to Saturday’s celebration. And even those familiar with state couldn’t help but be overcome by the feeling.

“It’s indescribable,” said Young, who won the state title in track last year for his skill with the javelin. “Track was amazing last year, but this just feels better.”

It has also been a time in which the Vikings’ learning curve has been steep, with new coach Nations coming in last year. But they’ve definitely overcome it.

“These last two years have been real tough for the North Kitsap basketball program,” Prince explained. “But this just feels great.”

And for players who have been playing as long as they can remember — perhaps not long after the Vikings’ last appearance at state — there is not feeling like it.

“To go to state my senior year,” Gonzales said, “You dream of this.”