Vikings hope memory loss aids postseason run

POULSBO—North Kitsap coach Penny Gienger laughed when asked how difficult it was for the Vikings to get over a pair of losses to Port Angeles during the final week of the regular season.

The second loss, a tiebreaker game to determine the No. 1 seed out of the Olympic League 2A, cost North Kitsap a first-round bye in the Class 2A West Central District tournament.

“It wasn’t the team,” Gienger said. “It was me.”

Gienger, who admits that she doesn’t take losses lightly, had to remind herself and her players during practice early this week that they were the best team in the Olympic League 2A for most of the regular season. The Vikings beat Port Angeles on the road in December and won their first 11 league contests.

In the end, sharing a league title with the Roughriders stood out as an impressive accomplishment considering the Vikings had starters in and out of the lineup for much of the winter due to injuries.

“The truth is, we’re a pretty good team,” Gienger said. “We just had to get back to the basics and remember that.”

North Kitsap (17-5) looked plenty good Wednesday as it cruised to victory in its district opener against Franklin Pierce. The Vikings led 48-18 at halftime and won 67-31.

Much like they have all year, the Vikings took an all-hands-on-deck approach against Franklin Pierce. North Kitsap doesn't have exceptional size, but made a concerted effort to attack the Cardinals on the interior. Sophomore guard Noey Barreith led the team with 18 points. 

Senior point guard Olivia Selembo, the Vikings' leading scorer for the season, didn't hit her first field goal until midway through the second quarter — and the Vikings still led 32-10. 

"We got really good shots on every possession," Gienger said.

North Kitsap plays at Renton (16-3) in a district quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Friday. A win would secure for the Vikings a berth in the regional round of the state tournament. Regionals has proven to be an unbreakable barrier the past three seasons for the Vikings, who haven't reached the state tournament in 30 years.

Gienger figures this year is as good as any for her team to end that streak.

"These seniors have played with me for three years ... I'm not teaching anything different," Gienger said. "Just get out and go."

"We are going to work as hard as we can to get there," Barreith added.

A potential fourth meeting against Port Angeles this season could happen next week. If North Kitsap beats Renton and Port Angeles knocks off Foster, the two teams would meet in the district semifinals next Wednesday.

"I hope we see them again," Barreith said. "We're a good team and they're a good team."

Hiner's hot hand helps Buccaneers

Avy Hiner had the hot hand Wednesday and helped Kingston's girls basketball team win its West Central District tournament opener.

Hinter had 24 points and 14 rebounds as the Buccaneers defeated Steilacoom 42-35 on the road. Kingston led 38-25 early in the fourth quarter before the Sentinels went on a 10-0 run over a four-minute span. Kingston regained control in the final minute.

“We made it interesting,” said Kingston coach Charles Deam, whose team led 25-7 at halftime. “We had a little bit of inexperience, but Steilacoom made a lot of adjustments.”

Kingston finally stopped the Sentinels’ run with a pair of free throws by Hiner with 1:45 left in the game.

“This feels awesome,” said Hiner, who made 10 of 13 free throws for the Bucs. “We had to fight for it.”

Kingston (14-7) plays in the quarterfinals at White River (18-4) in Buckley on Friday.

ALSO: Olympic's girls fell 63-58 in the Trojans' district opener at Eatonville. Olympic (9-12) plays a loser-out game Tuesday at Wilson High School at 6 p.m. against the loser of North Kitsap/Renton. ... Bainbridge's girls fell to Roosevelt 52-43 on Wednesday in a loser-out Metro League district qualifying game. The Spartans finished their season with a record of 13-9.

District playoffs at a glance

Friday—Class 2A West Central District girls tournament: North Kitsap at Renton, Kingston at White River, 7 p.m.; Class 1A West Central District boys tournament: Vashon Island at Klahowya, 6 p.m.