POULSBO — For the North Kitsap girls’ basketball team, last year wasn’t nearly enough of a good thing.
The team went 10-10 under first-year head coach Dan Weedin but didn’t make the playoffs: this year, that’s the goal.
“We want to play more than 20 games,” Weedin said. “We want to be in a playoff of some sort, whether it’s a league tournament or districts.”
While the Vikings graduated top scorer Mari McKinstry, there are plenty of options on offense, Weedin said.
“We’re very athletic. We get up and down the court very well. And I think this team sees the floor very well,” Weedin said.
The Vikings will use 5’10” Sheena Brundage at center. Brundage, who is also an all-league volleyball player, uses her 26-inch vertical leap to her advantage, Weedin said: last year she swatted about three blocks a game. “Defensively,” Weedin said, “She’s outstanding.”
Joining Brundage on the front line will be Jenn Harris, who has spent the summer working on her outside shot, work that so far has paid off.
“She’s a slasher, and has an impressive outside shot,” Weedin said. “She’ll be a factor for us.”
The team has a trio of captains in guard Sarah Bergman, forward Jennifer Ottele, and forward Jessica Bento.
Anyone who questions the team’s desire should take a gander at Ottele’s pinky, which she jammed diving for a loose ball in practice. Ottele took the pinky to a doctor. It had fractures, plural. But Ottele — and the other Vikings — can’t wait to get on the court.
“I’ve been waiting for the season since spring,” Bento said.
“I have a lot of confidence in our varsity,” Ottele said while watching a recent practice (she may miss the team’s first game against Bainbridge, but probably won’t miss more than that). “We’ve always had a speed advantage, and because we’re so quick, we play good D.”
Teammate Bento chimed in: “We’re going to be a defensive team.”
Many teammates have been playing together since junior high (or earlier) Ottele and Bento said; that cohesiveness will help the team this year.
“We don’t have to predict each other,” Ottele said. “We already know what to do.”
Weedin likes the direction the team is headed.
“We’re a very fundamentally sound team,” he said. “With our lack of height, we’ll have to be.”
What the Vikings lack in height, they may have in depth. Weedin thinks his team’s bench is a deep one.
Besides Bento, Bergman, Ottele, Harris, and Brundage, the team also includes Brita Nelson, Ashley Davis, Hailey Koivu, Lisa Roberts, and Kristina Jones. Players Stacey Knight, Lisa Gilbert, and Sierra Urie will probably shuttle between junior varsity and varsity, Weedin said.
The team’s job isn’t any easier than last year, Weedin said, especially with North Kitsap’s new admission into the Narrows League. While most of the teams will be familiar, such as Port Angeles and Central Kitsap, several tough new opponents have been added, including South Kitsap, which went 14-3 last year and went to districts, and Gig Harbor, which 17-3, and, anchored by three six-footers, went to state.
“It’s a very tough league,” said Weedin.
But he is confident his Vikings will give all their competition a tough run.
