North Kitsap sent North Mason home without a win this season after defeating them 92-50 in the final regular-season game.
The Vikings focused on keeping their players healthy and preparing for the playoffs. “We are playing against ourselves,” coach Scott Orness said. “We want to bring our best selves out there and just need to fine-tune.”
The Bulldogs took an 8-5 lead in the first few minutes. However, Harry Davies and Cade Orness took over in the final part of the quarter, leading 28-11 at that point.
The Vikings continued to silence the Bulldogs in transition and half-court play. “We can transition but we settled and did a good job,” Orness said. “They played a physical game and tough, and I’ll give it to them for playing hard until the end.”
Davies, Orness and Jalen East scored easily as the Vikings led 60-24 at halftime.
The Vikings fought hard throughout the third quarter as Orness scored seven of his 19 points during that eight-minute span. The Bulldogs tried to respond as Andrew Littrean and Carson Morris carried the offense.
Yet, the Vikings led 82-37 and ran the mercy rule clock throughout the fourth quarter, when the reserves played. Litttrean scored five of his 10 points that quarter as the Bulldogs actually outscored the Vikings by a point that period.
North Kitsap heads into the playoffs with a 13-0 Olympic League record and 15-4 overall.
District begins Feb. 15 with seedings determining where games are played. State begins Feb. 24 with a similar format. The top 12 teams advance to play in Yakima in the Sundome start March 1.