Bobcats pounce on Charlo and Two Eagle

SUPERIOR – The Superior Bobcats took two victories last week when they went up against the Charlo Vikings and Two Eagle River.

In the game against Charlo on Friday, January 10, the Bobcats saw a close 59-41 victory. Head Coach Chris Toivenen said the game was a tough one and described Charlo’s team as very athletic.

“Friday was too close of a game to me,” said Toivenen.

Despite the Viking’s strong defensive plays, the Bobcats were able to stay in the game. Things were close throughout and both teams fought hard. Toivenen said the turnaround happened in the fourth quarter, where Superior was able to pull ahead to take the win.

Senior Tucker Smith played through most of the game. Toivenen said he was instrumental to the break of Charlo’s defensive pressure in the fourth quarter.

“He got us into the stuff we needed to in the half-court,” said Toivenen. “Our offenses were executed real well, so he was a standout.”

The coach also commended junior Wyatt Zylawy for stepping up to play hard and said he was instrumental in breaking through Charlo’s lines. Toivenen said Zylawy and Smith were the key guys for the team on Friday.

The two led the team and were on the court almost constantly. While not everybody on the team saw time on the court, the game on Saturday was a different matter.

The game against Two Eagle was not as close as the one before it. Superior walked away with a 76-32 victory.

According to Toivenen, the game started with a rough defense. He said some points were given up and there were problems with contested shots. However, after Superior got the ball, the tides shifted. The first quarter ended with 30 points for Superior and the half with 54 points.

While the defense was described as shaky, the first quarter saw a strong offense. The second quarter saw the game pick up even more and a few players stood out to the coach.

Toivenen praised senior Clint Voll for his 15 rebounds. He mentioned Smith for his contributions to this game as well, with seven steals and assists. These numbers were something the coach said was always nice to see.

Toivenen was proud of how the team responded to the troubles faced in the games. He said it tested their abilities and preparation.

“Friday night was where we really showed our grit and the mental toughness we’re going to need as the season progresses,” said Toivenen.

In the days between games, the team continued their tradition to practice some of everything. Toivenen said there were some things a team could never practice too much and they could always get better in certain aspects of the game.

The Bobcats played a game in St. Regis on Tuesday, January 14. Information on the county rivalry game was not available at the time of press.

Superior’s next game will be Friday, January 17, in Noxon against the Red Devils. Toivenen did not give any predictions of how either game would go.