Bearcats boys defeat Patriots and Storm, lose to Rebels

By Editor | February 5, 2025 |

By Coach Trent Jerome
KCC 73 – W-E-M 54
On Thursday, Jan. 16th, KCC hosted the Win-E-Mac Patriots in Lancaster, delivering a strong all-around performance.
The game opened with a tight back-and-forth battle, as both teams traded baskets early. Junior Brody Scalese provided a spark early in the first half, sinking a critical three-pointer that ignited a run for the Bearcats on both ends of the floor.
However, the Patriots responded with sharp outside shooting, and clawed back into the game midway through the first half. KCC continued to fight and quickly grew a lead again led by Sophomore Eli Peterson, slashing to the rim with ease and scoring 16 points to help the Bearcats build a 45-27 lead by halftime.
The Bearcats continued their dominance in the second half, moving the ball effectively on offense and playing lockdown team defense. Despite the Patriots’ continued success from the three-point line, they couldn’t match KCC’s balanced attack.
The Bearcats cruised to a decisive 73-54 victory, setting a strong tone for the week ahead.
Scoring: Eli Peterson 23, Ty Vig 21, Kellen Johnson 11, Brody Scalese 9, Brock Scalese 9.
KCC 53 – RLC 57
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, KCC hit the road for a showdown against the Red Lake County Rebels in Red Lake Falls. The Rebels entered the game as the No. 1 team in the conference and leaders of the subsection, but the Bearcats came out with energy and confidence, ready to rise to the challenge.
The first half was a tightly contested affair, with senior Ty Vig leading the Bearcats’ offense. Vig’s scoring in the paint gave KCC consistent looks, while their zone defense effectively slowed down the Rebels’ high-powered attack.
At halftime, the Bearcats trailed by just 4 at 32-28.
In the second half, the Rebels adjusted their defense, packing the paint to limit Vig’s touches. KCC struggled to find their rhythm from beyond the arc, but timely three-pointers from Brock Scalese and Vig kept the game within reach.
With under 30 seconds remaining, the Bearcats had two chances to tie the game but came up just short. Forced to foul, KCC watched as the Rebels iced the game at the free-throw line to secure a 57-53 victory.
Scoring: Ty Vig 25, Brody Scalese 10, Brock Scalese 9, Eli Peterson 7, Kellen Johnson 2.
KCC 54 – SAC 40
In a gritty conference rivalry game on Friday, Jan. 24, KCC traveled to Stephen to take on the Stephen-Argyle Storm. From the outset, it was clear that both teams came ready to battle, with defensive intensity on full display.
Senior Ty Vig once again carried the offensive load for the Bearcats in the first half, scoring effectively in the paint, while junior Brody Scalese knocked down a pair of three-pointers to keep the game close. Despite their efforts, KCC entered halftime trailing 28-26.
The second half belonged to the Bearcats, who turned up the intensity on defense and began flying around the court, disrupting the Storm’s offense. Patience on the offensive end allowed KCC to find Vig for easy finishes near the basket, while the Storm struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities.
KCC’s stifling defense held the Storm to just 12 second-half points, paving the way for the Bearcats to pull away and secure a 54-40 victory. It was a complete team effort.
Scoring: Ty Vig 25, Brody Scalese 13, Brock Scalese 6, Eli Peterson 5, Kellen Johnson 5.