POULSBO — If there is one thing the Vikings learned during the game against the Bainbridge Island Spartans, it’s that they need to get taller.
“Bainbridge is huge,” Vikings head coach Dan Rosenberg said. “If they played in 2A they would be the state champs.”
The Vikings lost to Bainbridge 77-58 in a non-conference game in the North Kitsap Gymnasium on Dec. 1.
Putting aside the score, the game against the Spartans leads Rosenberg to believe the Vikings will do well this season. The team had a few ineligible players, which could be resolved soon. And there are a few players still learning the ropes.
Rosenberg said he believes that is the closest the Vikings have come to defeating the Spartans on the court “in over a decade.”
The Vikings outscored the Spartans 16-15 in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Spartans turned it around and scored 20 to the Vikings’ 12.
The third quarter saw a close 18-14 score in favor of the Spartans. The Spartans sealed the win with 24 points in the fourth quarter. The Vikings scored 16.
Cole Rabedeaux scored 16 points for the Vikings. Calvin Dennis scored 12, followed by Ethan Graebner’s and Brooks Ellingsen’s eight points each.
The game against the Vikings was supposed to be the second against an Olympic League team. The Kingston Buccaneers were scheduled to play the Spartans Nov. 29, but road conditions caused the game’s cancellation.
Vikings overcome Chimacum
The Vikings shook off their loss to the Spartans and rebounded for a win over Chimacum on Dec. 3.
The Vikings won 72-40 on the road.
The Vikings outscored Chimacum the entire game. The Vikings held Chimacum below 10 points in the third and fourth quarters, while posting 20 and 15 points respectively.
North Kitsap’s Calvin Dennis led the Vikings with 23 points.
The first game of the regular season is Dec. 12 when the Bucs and Vikings play at North Kitsap.
Bucs outlast Eagles for the win
Kingston’s Cody Boles hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the Bucs’ first game of the season against the Klahowya Eagles into overtime.
The Dec. 3 non-conference game ended when Kingston’s Colin Veilleux hit two free throws with 30 seconds left in OT.
The Bucs won 69-67.
Kingston’s Miles Sustad led with 21 points, followed by Liam Young for 16. Boles scored 11 and Veilleux added 10.
