Bearcats girls are Sub-Section champions, Section runners-up

By Mark Johnson
West Sub-Section Championship Game
KCC 81 – SH 73
The Bearcats wore out Highway 59 from Lancaster to Thief River Falls last week between boys’ and girls’ basketball action. On Wednesday, March 6, the girls took on the Sacred Heart Eagles in the Ralph Englestad Arena in Thief River for the right to be crowned the West Sub-Section 8A champions.
Family, friends, and fans were treated to an entertaining game and a great night for Bearcat basketball. The two teams had squared off in a precursor late in the season at Sacred Heart. The Bearcats came out on top that night 71-63. KCC had their sights set on a repeat performance.
The Bearcats and Eagles sparred over the first couple minutes of the game with both teams working out some of the early kinks. The Eagles took an innocent 7-6 lead on a corner three that opened-up a flood gate that KCC struggled to get closed. The Eagles went on a 26-10 run over the next 8:14 of the game to hold a 33-16 lead at the 7:17 mark of the first half of play. The Bearcats, however, dug deep and turned up the screws on defense and made a furious comeback that had everyone standing and cheering.
The Bearcats erased the 17-point deficit in just under 6 minutes of play and tied the game at 39-39 with 1:27 left in the first half. The Bearcat defense swarmed the Eagles and forced turnover after turnover, and completely turned the momentum and pace of the game in the Bearcats’ favor. From the 7:17 mark of the first half the Bearcats went on a 25-6 run that gave them a 41-39 lead at the end of the first half.
The Bearcats and Eagles weren’t done battling. KCC and Sacred Heart came out swinging in the second half knowing that whoever landed the biggest punches would likely claim the Sub-Section Championship. The Eagles landed the first punch and regained the lead at 42-41 on a three-pointer from the left wing. What Sacred Heart didn’t know at the time was it would be the last time they held the lead.
KCC took the lead back on a pair of free throws and followed it up with a pair of baskets to take a 47-42 lead. Sacred Heart went back to their bread and butter and knocked down another three-point shot to close the lead back to a single possession at 47-45.
The Eagles shot a mind boggling 56% from the three-point line on 14-25 shooting. The Bearcat pressure and resiliency proved to be the deciding factors by the end of the night. KCC kept attacking and took control of the game down the stretch.
The Bearcats pushed their lead out to 10 points at the 7:52 mark of the second half on yet another steal and fast break opportunity. The Bearcats put on a clinic defensively with their pressure and totaled 42 points off 27 forced turnovers for the game. KCC had an answer for every punch the Eagles threw over the final 8 minutes of play and the Bearcats hoisted the West Sub-Section 8a Champion-ship Trophy at the end of the night with a hard fought and entertaining 81-73 victory.
No one got cheated watching the game tonight. We got to see two different style teams go about their business and play to their strengths. Our girls refused to give up and overcame a huge deficit early in the game and then settled in to play really good basketball in the second half.
Scoring leaders: Kaydence White 27, Morgan Turn 25, Greta Kuznia 16, Afton Lindgren 4, Berlyn Strege 3, Hanna Warnke 2, Ellen Hilman 2, McKinley Folland 2
Rebound leaders: Kaydence White 10, Ellen Hilman 5
Assist leaders: Morgan Turn 6, Berlyn Strege 3

Section 8A Championship
KCC 59 – Fosston 67
The Bearcats made the return trip to Thief River and the REA on Friday, March 8 to battle the Fosston Greyhounds for the Section 8A title. It was set up to be a battle. The two teams had played in mid-January at NCTC and had to go to overtime in that contest before the Greyhounds could claim a 56-54 win.
The fans watching the game must have thought they were watching a repeat of the January game. KCC found themselves on the trailing end in the first half not by a little, but by a lot. The Greyhounds pushed out to a 25-8 lead at the 6:34 mark of the first half and all looked to be lost for the Bearcats. KCC had different thoughts and they refused to fold. The Bearcats began to chip away at the lead and once again turned up the screws on their defensive pressure. KCC scratched and clawed their way back and closed the Greyhound lead to 32-25 at the halftime break.
The Bearcats continued their run in the second half and took the lead at 14:10 on a three-point shot from the left wing. The Bearcats kept up the strong play and got a bit of separation with a 39-35 lead and had a chance to build on that lead on the next possession. The Bearcats could not capitalize, and the Greyhounds responded with a three-pointer and a lay-up to regain the lead at 40-39. KCC never got back in front in the contest. They battled down the stretch but were held at arm’s length as the final minutes ticked away on their bid to claim the Section championship and earn the trip to the state tournament.
The Bearcats finished the season with a 24-5 overall record, were both North Border and Northern Galaxy Conference Champions, were the West Sub-Section Champions, and were the Section 8 runner-up finishers.
This team brought people to the gym. They created a buzz in the Kittson County Central community. They were worth the price of admission every time they stepped on the floor. More importantly, they epitomize what high school sports are about and why we have them. They build community and they build character. They are to be celebrated!
Scoring leaders: Kaydence White 25, Morgan Turn 15, Greta Kuznia 10, McKinley Folland 7, Afton Lindgren 2
Rebound leaders: Kaydence White 7, McKinley Folland 6
Assist leaders: Morgan Turn 4