The Raiders sailed home empty-handed Tuesday after coming up short in a lopsided game against the Bainbridge Spartans.

The boys varsity basketball team led early and controlled the court for the majority of the game against Nathan Hale earlier this week, ultimately scoring a 55-39 victory.

Though they suspected they were the better team going in, Spartan Head Coach Scott Orness said, it was far from a sure thing and Orness said that the team came together for a strong showing.

The win at home evened the team’s overall season record to 5-5, though they remain 0-3 in league play.

Bainbridge is ranked in seventh place overall in the Metro Mountain Division, immediately behind Lakeside (9-4, overall) and Bishop Blanchet (7-5).

Seattle Preparatory is the first-place team, boasting and undefeated 3-0 league record (11-2 overall).

The Spartans staked claim on the board early, leading by at least seven points in the middle of the second quarter. They even secured enough of a lead to give some less experienced players considerable court time.

BHS led 26-22 at the end of the first half, and returned in the third to perhaps their best quarter of all.

The Spartans got on a run and pulled further ahead, leading 39-27 going into the game’s final quarter.

Several players put up big individual numbers Tuesday, as well, most notably Blake Swanson, who led the home team’s scoring efforts with 17 points.

Ben Beatie scored 10 and Trent Schulte chipped in eight points.

Orness said that games in which the Spartans were confident of their victory allowed them to focus on technique and teamwork.

“In the first half I kind of thought we let them hang in the game and I wasn’t very happy at halftime,” he said. “The one guy who really played hard there that first half was Blake Swanson.”

To inspire the sense of urgency he felt was lacking, Orness said that the Spartans returned to the court in the second half with the mindset that they were already down 10 points.

It worked like a charm.

“I don’t think they scored a bucket until two minutes to go in the third quarter,” Orness laughed. “I’m proud of our effort in the third.”

“The hope is that we learn from this and that we use some of those opportunities where we’re better than the other team for us to take a step and get better for future games.”

Orness’ plans for preparation ­— and for taking advantage of an easier win on the rare occasion it happens along — is sound reasoning, especially as the Spartans prepare to next travel to face off against the first-place ranked West Seattle at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16.

The Spartan squad was playing very well together, the coach said Tuesday, and they were unafraid of taking on any competitor at this point in the season.

“All of our guys I have confidence in, in some way, shape or form,” Orness said, adding that this year’s squad was a particularly well-suited group considering that so often is not the case.

“It’s hard to find a 12-man rotation, or even a 10-man rotation,” he explained.

The Spartans’ overall game is at the best it’s been all season, Orness explained, and said now is the time for the squad to focus and hone their skills for the playoffs.

“We kind of call it ‘sharpening the sword,’” he said.

“We’ve got it pretty much set, our offense and defensive stuff, and now it’s really fine-tuning things and working on execution. And still always working on the principles of our offense and defense,” he said. “We know with our size we want to get extra opportunities by offensive rebounds.”