Bearcats boys start new year defeating Storm, Bears

By Editor | January 22, 2025 |

By Coach Trent Jerome
KCC 66 – SAC 46
The Bearcats opened the new year with a convincing win over the Stephen-Argyle Storm in Hallock on Thursday, Jan. 2. Senior Ty Vig set the tone early with strong scoring inside, while junior Brody Scalese added a three-pointer to get KCC rolling.
The Storm responded in the early minutes, but the Bearcats turned up their defensive intensity, stifling Stephen-Argyle’s offense. Playing an inside-out style, KCC built a double-digit lead midway through the first half. The Storm switched to a zone defense to slow the Bearcats, but a three-pointer by junior Brock Scalese and solid paint finishes by Vig forced them back into man-to-man coverage.
KCC’s defense continued to shine, and the Bearcats entered halftime with a 34-17 lead.
In the second half, they remained patient on offense, working for high-percentage looks while keeping up the defensive pressure. Stephen-Argyle managed brief scoring spurts, but KCC never wavered, extending their lead to as much as 25 points.
The Bearcats’ consistent play on both ends of the floor carried them to a 66-46 victory.
Scoring: Ty Vig 27, Kellen Johnson 12, Brock Scalese 9, Brody Scalese 8, Eli Peterson 6, James Cerkowniak 2, Ashton Knutson 2.
KCC 79 – LOW 27
The Bearcats carried their momentum into the game against Lake of the Woods on Friday, Jan. 3, delivering a commanding 79-27 win in Baudette.
Senior Ty Vig once again led the charge, asserting his dominance in the paint. Meanwhile, KCC’s half-court zone pressure gave the Bears trouble from the start, forcing turnovers and limiting offensive opportunities.
Offensively, KCC’s unselfish play stood out, with 10 different Bearcats scoring in the first half alone. Highlights included a three-pointer from Kaden Seurer and a put-back layup by Brooks Nordin. The Bearcats’ crisp ball movement and team-first approach helped them take a commanding 49-7 lead into halftime.
In the second half, KCC continued their focus on team defense and offensive execution. The large lead allowed the Bearcats to experiment with new lineups, and by the end of the game, 11 different players had scored. The Bearcats’ depth and balanced attack propelled them to a 79-27 win.
Scoring: Ty Vig 17, Kellen Johnson 14, Eli Peterson 10, Brody Scalese 7, Karsynn Peterson 7, James Cerkowniak 6, Brooks Nordin 5, Kaden Seurer 5, Evan Schwenzfeier 3, Brock Scalese 3, Ashton Knutson 2.
KCC started this week with a home game on Monday, Jan. 6, in Lancaster versus the Goodridge/Grygla Chargers. The Bearcats then hit the road for back-to-back games on Tuesday, Jan. 7, against Climax/ Fisher and Friday, Jan. 10, against Badger/Greenbush-Middle River Gators.

BEARCATS #5 JAMES CERKOWNIAK aims for the bakset during the game at Hallock versus Stephen-Argyle Storm. During this contest, he contributed 2 points. During the game at Baudette versus the LOW Bears, Cerkowniak contributed 6 points. (Enterprise photo by Miranda Peterson)

BEARCATS #12 TY VIG goes for a layup against three Stephen-Argyle Storm players on Thursday, Jan. 2 in Hallock. He contributed 27 points in that game, and 17 points in the game against LOW Bears.
(Enterprise photo by Miranda Peterson)

BEARCATS #4 KELLEN JOHNSON looks to pass the ball against the Storm on Thursday, Jan. 2. Johnson scored 12 points in the game, and 14 points in the game against LOW.
(Enterprise photo by Miranda Peterson)