Wolves take a bite out of North Kitsap

The North Kitsap girls’ basketball team came in with a simple game plan — stop South Kitsap’s dominating forward, Loni Tostenrude.

But Tostenrude had plans of her own.

The SK senior still took the ball inside on North for 21 points, despite double teams and a zone defense, as the Wolves held on for a much-needed league win, 50-42 on Wednesday night in Poulsbo.

“Our offensive plan was obvious: Get it to Loni,” said Wolves’ head coach Mike Allen. “Try to put the pressure on (North) and try to get some easy buckets.”

The plan paid off, especially in the first half, as Tostenrude scored 16 of SK’s total 28 points. But many of Tostenrude’s points came from swarmy defensive pressure that forced the Lady Vikings into turnovers.

During the first quarter, the Wolves’ D often wouldn’t allow NK to get the ball past mid-floor. The second was much of the same, only North was able to penetrate the press with more consistency.

This time, it was poor field goal percentage that thwarted NK — an aspect that’s plagued the Vikings for several games.

“We’re just not getting it done, field goal percentage-wise,” said NK Coach Dan Weedin. “It’s just a matter of getting some kids to score more consistently.”

Though the Vikings would struggle offensively the whole game, North started to pick up steam and shut down Tostenrude in the second half. The Wolves’ threat was held to just six points in the last two quarters.

Combined with a new force for North Kitsap — sophomore Jasmine Hill — the Vikings mounted a comeback, hitting the boards and going underneath with a few points of their own.

Hill, who has scored 37 points in the last three games, added a team-high 12 on Wednesday, with nine rebounds.

But it was too little, too late for NK.

“It’s kind of the same old story,” said Weedin. We’re working hard and we’re not getting blown out in these games. We’ve just got to get over the hump.”

Chances look dim for North in league, now 0-5 in the Narrows.

For South Kitsap, there is at least a fighting chance.

“We’ve got to win a lot of games here,” said Allen. “We’ve dropped a few that we shouldn’t have. We need to get consistent and get better at finishing out the games.”

And things don’t get easier in the schedule for both teams: South Kitsap will play Central Kitsap and Port Angeles next week; the Vikes have Olympic and Gig Harbor.

South Kitsap 17 11 14 8 — 50

North Kitsap 12 6 10 18 — 42

South Kitsap — Christina Bui 5, Schelsey Zimmerman 2, Lindsay Costello 2,

Sierra Vinson 3, Leah Bradley 2, Morgan Wiggins 4, Jamie Mclain 1, Loni Tostenrude 21, Megan Gilbert 10.

North Kitsap — Brenda Stice 3, Molly McCluskey 5, Kristen Sprague 2, Jenna Reed 6, Jasmine Hill 12, Coreena Stout 5, Rachel Kramer 3, Ally Lidick 1, Katie Swanlund 5.

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