CAMBRIDGE — “This is the first game where we’re winning in the first half,” C-SD girls’ junior varsity basketball coach Andrew Bishop told his players during a timeout late in the first quarter. “I’m proud. We’re fighting.”

The game ended with a North Caroline High School 39-30 victory, but the coach remained upbeat afterwards. With a record of 1-5, Coach Bishop pointed out, “Four of our losses are to 2A schools.”

“We’re getting a lot better,” he said. Freshman KeAna Clark provided a good example.

“She made her first lay-up [in a game] tonight,” he said. “That’s a huge improvement.”

Latisha Williams was another player who had a memorable night, posting a best-ever 8 points, including a nice 3-pointer at the end of the second period and 5 of 6 free throws.

The game began with a Vikings 10-3 lead with 2 minutes remaining in the first period. Halfway through the second quarter, with the score tied at 10, Coach Bishop called a timeout and told his girls to improve their passing and stay calm.

North Caroline had moved ahead, 18-14, by the end of the half. C-SD’s missed shots took their toll in the third quarter, with the visitors leading by 25-15 with about three and a half minutes to go.

At the 5:31 mark of the final period, North Caroline was up 32-20, but the Viking girls fought back, closing the score to 34-29 in the final two minutes. Co-Captain Jahnaysha Cornish came to the bench during a timeout saying, “We had the adrenaline going!”

High spirits weren’t quite enough, though, as a couple of late North Caroline baskets put the game out of reach.

Afterwards, captains Jahnaysha and Jenna Ausmussen credited the team’s improvement to intensity on the court and hard work in practice.

“We do a lot of shooting and passing drills,” Jenna said.

And when things are fast and furious on the court, “I guess we get more into the game,” Jahnaysha said. “We play better as a team.”

* In other junior varsity news, C-SD’s boys traveled to North Caroline High School on Thursday, where they won, 60-37.

The girls’ JV next game will be Tuesday at C-SD versus Easton, game time is 5 p.m.

The boys’ next game will be Thursday at C-SD versus North Dorchester, game time is 5 p.m.