KCC Bearcat boys add two wins

By Josie Steen
This past week the Bearcat boys’ basketball team played two important games, winning both. On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Bearcats beat the Red Lake County Rebels, winning 62-50. Friday night, Jan. 24, the KCC basketball boys beat long-time rival Stephen-Argyle 69-30.
Tuesday night’s matchup versus the Rebels was a battle throughout the game. The Bearcats eventually took the lead, winning by a 12-point margin of 62-50. The game started strong on both sides, but the Rebels took the lead with two early 3-pointers. In the first 10 minutes, RLC earned a 10-point lead, which was slowly chipped away by the Bearcats a few minutes before halftime. Once the Bearcats earned the lead, it was a back and forth battle. RLC had the lead at halftime, 23-21.
The second half also was back and forth, but near the 12-minute mark the Bearcats took the lead. KCC’s lead stretched from 2 to 10 until free throws in the final minutes allowed them to take the 12-point lead they would end with, 62-50.
Derek Peterson and Eric Gieseke led RLC with 13 points each.
Mitchell Docken led the Bearcats with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Kaleb Whitlock added 16 points. Jarrett Kujava contributed 13 points and 15 rebounds, Tucker Nelson added 8 points, and Evan Austad also brought in 7 points and 9 rebounds.
Friday night the Bearcats faced the Stephen-Argyle Storm in Hallock. The Bearcats started strong with a first possession 3-pointer and tough defense, which lead to a lead of 12-2 in the first five minutes of the game.
KCC’s consistent shooting grew this lead to 37-4 with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. By halftime, this lead stretched to 41-12.
Three early 3-pointers by the Storm in the second half lowered the distance to 45-20, but the Bearcats did not stop pushing. Continued efforts throughout the game lead to the nearly 40-point win, 69-30. Jason Lindgren led the Storm with 9 points. Jarrett Kujava led the Bearcats with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Kaleb Whitlock and Tucker Nelson each scored 10 points, while Mitchell Docken also added 8 points and 10 rebounds. Evan Austad scored 5 points, Nick Gjerde and Chisum Schmiedeberg each contributed 3, and Isaac Folland added 1.
This week the Bearcat boys play a double-header on Monday in Hallock versus Warren-Alvarado-Oslo at 7:30. Tuesday night they play at May-Port CG, and Friday night they play Grygla/Goodridge in Lancaster, which is also Parents’ Night. The Roseau game that was canceled on Jan. 17 is rescheduled to a double-header at Roseau on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Mitchell Docken                           Zach Vig