The boys basketball team improved to 16-5 and locked up the number two seed for the playoffs with a 46-30 win over the Kennedy Cavaliers.

The game was a defensive battle throughout its entirety, with neither team scoring more than nine points in the first quarter and the Vikings holding Kennedy to just nine points in the entire first half.

After a slow, back-and-forth first quarter, the Vikes held the Cavaliers to only two points in the second and after they tied the game at nine, the Vikings went on an 11-0 run to extended their lead to 21-9 at the half.

The Cavaliers finally got something going in the third quarter, scoring 13 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Vikings’ lead.

The Vikes’ defense was strong all night, generating lots of turnovers and fast breaks that led to easy baskets, especially early in the game when their shooting was off.

The defense also forced long possessions for the Cavaliers, who had no players score more than nine points and one three-pointer. This made it hard for Kennedy to come back in the second half.

Guard Kyle Depollar was the only scorer in the game to hit double-digits, scoring 16, while guard Ben Castagnetti added nine points on three three-pointers.

The game marked senior night for the team who will be graduating 10 players this year.

“Senior night was special for all of us who have played together for the past four years,” Castagnetti said. “We are such a close team and have enjoyed playing with each other.”

Following a tough loss to Blair, which took away the possibility of getting the one seed, the Vikes were able to clinch the two seed with their win over Kennedy and are now ensured a home playoff game next Friday night.

The Vikings still have one more regular season game, however, next Tuesday on the road against Northwood before the playoffs begin.