Hardwood rundown: How Kitsap's boys and girls basketball teams fare as 2024 opens

Kingston girls basketball coach Charles Deam is discovering that his Buccaneers are growing comfortable with comeback victories.

On Tuesday, the Buccaneers rallied from being down nine points at halftime against visiting North Kitsap to win 41-40, picking up their fourth consecutive win. Kingston is 7-1 over its past eight games.

"This was a huge league win right here," Deam said.

It wasn't the largest comeback of the season for the Buccaneers. That happened during the final week of 2023 at the Fort Vancouver holiday tournament. Kingston erased a 15-point deficit with three minutes to play to topple River Ridge, 35-31, in the title game. Senior Jayla Moon buried the go-ahead 3-pointer with three seconds remaining.

"It was one of the craziest comebacks I've ever been a part of," Deam said.

Playing for the first time in 2024, Kingston saw a 10-2 lead disappear when North Kitsap used a 17-0 run to build a 26-17 advantage at halftime. The Buccaneers then outscored the Vikings 14-3 in the third quarter to go ahead 31-29 entering the fourth.

"We got back to attacking the rim in the second half," Deam said. "We were shooting way too many threes (in the first half)."

North Kitsap missed a potential game-winning shot with seven seconds remaining in the game. Senior Khi Tall Bull led Kingston with 13 points despite spraining her ankle late in the first quarter. Sophomore Corianna McMillian scored 15 for North Kitsap.

In addition to helping put memories of last season's 2-18 record firmly in the rearview mirror, Kingston's win over North Kitsap keeps the Buccaneers in the top half of the Olympic League 2A standings.

Bainbridge (5-2 overall, 4-0 in league) sits in first place after Tuesday's 44-40 road win at Port Angeles (5-6, 3-1). Kingston (8-2, 3-1) is tied for second with Port Angeles and Sequim (5-2, 3-1). North Kitsap (6-3, 1-3), Olympic (4-6, 1-3), Bremerton (1-5, 1-3) and North Mason (2-4, 0-4) are in the bottom half of the standings.

On the boys' side, Bremerton (11-0 overall, 4-0 in league) and North Kitsap (6-3, 4-0) are headed for a first-place showdown Jan. 9 in Poulsbo. Port Angeles (7-3, 3-1) beat Bainbridge (4-3, 2-2) on Tuesday, 74-67, to move into third place. The bottom half of the league consists of Kingston (3-7, 1-3), Sequim (5-4, 1-3), North Mason (1-5, 2-4) and Olympic (3-6, 0-4).

How's the basketball landscape look across the rest of West Sound?

South Kitsap's boys basketball team begins 2024 with a 4-4 overall record and 2-3 record in the 4A South Puget Sound League's North Division, a half game behind Puyallup for third place. The Wolves, led by seniors Tyler Hansen, Kenny Miller and junior Josaiah Asuega, host the Vikings on Thursday, South Kitsap's girls (4-7 overall, 1-4 in SPSL North Division) are tied for fourth place with Curtis. Paced by seniors Kamdyn Hagerty (12.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and Kyla Hoisington (12.2 ppg), the Wolves begin a three-day road stretch Thursday at Puyallup.

It's been a struggle for Central Kitsap. The boys are 1-9 overall and 0-5 in the South Sound Conference 3A with a home game against Yelm on tap Friday. Central Kitsap's girls team, which qualified for the 3A state tournament last season, is 0-11 overall and 0-5 in league play. Senior Abi Lundblad leads the Cougars with 9.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The girls travel to Yelm on Friday.

In the Nisqually League 1A, Klahowya's boys entered the new year with a 3-2 overall record and 1-2 league mark. Three games this week will give the Eagles a chance to shake off the holiday rust. The team features four players averaging double-figures in points, led by senior Eli Kraft (16.4 points) and junior Carson Langguth (13.3 points).

Klahowya's girls (3-6 overall, 2-2 in league) went into Wednesday's road game at Cascade Christian trying to snap a three-game losing skid. Sophomore Shyanne Kilmer leads the team at 9.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

In the Sea-Tac League 1B, it's been a rough start for Crosspoint's boys team (0-9 overall, 0-3 in league). It's been the opposite for Crosspoiont's girls team, which saw its six-game winning streak end with a loss to Adna in the championship game of the Mount Vernon Christian Invitational on Dec. 30. The Warriors appear to be in fine shape (9-2 overall, 2-0 in league) moving forward with sophomores Anna Kuske (13.0 ppg), Momoyo Iwata (10.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.0 spg) and Riya Tibosa (8.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg) leading the charge.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Basketball update for Kitsap County as 2024 opens