North Kitsap’s girls basketball team fell one game short of clinching a state berth.
The Vikings faced Port Angeles at a neutral site on Feb. 18, losing 41-16. North Kitsap suited up only eight players in their final game and it showed offensively.
Port Angeles began the game with a 6-1 lead in the first few minutes. The Vikings responded to the early run when Tiffany Le scored five straight points. Jade Sunnenberg ended the quarter with a made technical free throw to give the Vikings a 7-6 lead.
However, Port Angeles went on a 13-0 run in the second quarter. Yet, the Roughriders did not start their run until the final four minutes of the quarter.
The Vikings looked to turn things around in the third quarter. Evelyn Beers and Avery Kline scored a couple of baskets to narrow the lead to 20-11. Beers added two more points to end the quarter at 24-14.
Port Angeles decided to put the Vikings away as they went on a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter. Kline scored the only basket with a couple of minutes remaining in the game. The Vikings lost the consolation finals and ended their season with a 12-12 record.
NK remained alive in the consolation bracket of the district tournament after beating Foster 42-36 at home Feb. 16.
Beers led the Vikings with 17 points, 13 in the first half.
“She was an animal today,” coach Karla DeVries said. “She has played timid most of the season and to have her come out of it when we needed her the most is crucial.”
Kline played a big role, too.
“[Evelyn] and Avery were the reasons we won,” DeVries said. “Avery picked up number 20 and shut her down in the second half. Both of them were crucial tonight.”
Foster’s No. 20, Ariyana Deloney, was a near 6-foot freshman guard who was able to power her way through the defense and make a few perimeter shots during the game.
“Those girls were brutes,” DeVries said. “We learned to handle that, and we have struggled with that all year. They are figuring it out down the stretch and have to play tougher.”
Beers scored five of the Vikings first seven points. But Foster still took an early 12-7 lead. Fighting their way back, Beers led the second-quarter scoring with six points, giving the Vikings a 22-20 lead at halftime.
Although Beers slowed down in the second half, her teammates picked up the offense. Kline had four points in the third to give the Vikings a 35-27 lead.
Both offenses slowed down in the final eight minutes, scoring seven points each. Coriana McMillan ended the game with a free throw to give the Vikings the victory.
Coriana McMillan looks to pass to an open teammate.
