Bobcats control Norfolk Catholic in Top-5 showdown

The Summerland Bobcats came out firing on all cylinders and held strong to secure a 61-48 victory over Norfolk Catholic in a highly anticipated Top-5 matchup on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Summerland.

The Bobcats set the tone early, jumping out to a commanding 20-8 lead in the first quarter. Fueled by aggressive play on both ends of the floor, Summerland capitalized on their intense start and forced Norfolk Catholic to play from behind. However, Norfolk Catholic didn't go quietly, responding with a 20-point second quarter to cut the deficit to 32-28 at halftime.

"We got off to a really hot start," Summerland head coach Brett Kaczor said after the game. "The guys were amped up for a Top-5 matchup, and they came out aggressive on both ends of the floor. Although Norfolk Catholic was able to cut into our lead, our guys never wavered and continued to make counter-runs back at them."

The Bobcats steadied the ship in the second half. Outscoring Norfolk Catholic 12-7 in the third quarter, Summerland re-established control and held firm down the stretch. Behind clutch scoring and timely defensive stops, the Bobcats added 17 points in the final frame to put the game away.

Michael Koenig was a force for Summerland, pouring in a game-high 23 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists. Preston Hoke added 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists, providing a strong scoring punch to complement Koenig's effort. Sam Cheatum chipped in with nine points, four rebounds, and four assists, while Alec Schindler anchored the paint with six points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots.

Despite giving up offensive rebounds, Coach Kaczor praised his team's resilience. "We gave up way too many offensive rebounds, but we battled our tails off and made just enough stops at the end to come away with a win. That's a really good win to get early in the year to build confidence and momentum."

For Norfolk Catholic, the offensive production slowed in the second half as they managed just 20 combined points in the final two quarters. Though they pushed to stay within striking distance, the Bobcats' defensive intensity ultimately proved too much to overcome. Junior Gavin Schutt hit six three-point shots to lead the Knights.