Jeremy Behm Kellogg Year: Senior Sport: Basketball Position: Guard

Have you ever been hit in the forehead with a two-by-four?

Jeremy Behm has - at least figuratively. It’s not something he wants to experience again.

It happened Jan. 12 at Kellogg. Leading by 14 with about 4 minutes left, the Wildcats watched Bonners Ferry pull off a 60-54 Intermountain League comeback win.

Behm determined it was time to give teammate Casey Fisher (20.3 points per game) some help.

“After that game I decided I had to be more assertive offensively,” Behm said. “That’s when we realized we had to play as a team. I talked to my teammates and told them Casey needs help. We’ve got a bunch of goals for this team and we can’t win with just Casey.”

Behm shouldered much of the blame for the upset loss to Bonners Ferry.

“I’m a leader and I figure if I’m harder on myself the guys will come along with you,” he said.

Behm scored 11 points and made four late free throws as Kellogg knocked off A-1 Lake City last week. He followed that effort by scoring 13 of 17 points in the first half of the Wildcats’ redemptive 66-55 win Friday at Bonners Ferry.

While Fisher is what Behm calls the “show” at Kellogg, Behm is the top supporting player. His 11.6 scoring average is second on the team, and he’s shooting a team-leading 77 percent from the free throw line.

“One thing that’s peculiar about Jeremy is, in big games

he’s come up big; he always has a big game when we need it most,” coach Tony Kerfoot said. “He’s been Mr. Clutch down the stretch and put a couple of ballgames away at the free-throw line.”

Behm, affectionately called “Baldy” because of his prematurely receding hairline, is not only a vocal leader, but a leader by example.

He’s the first at practice and the last to leave.

That’s one reason Kerfoot named Behm as a team captain. “He’s a steady player and has taken some pressure off Casey,” the coach said.

Said Behm: “Nothing comes real easy for me. I’ve had to work real hard on my fundamentals. That’s helped me overcome some physical liabilities.”

Kellogg entertains Moscow tonight in a game that could be a preview of the district championship showdown.

“It’s a must-win for a lot of reasons,” Behm said.

A big game? That’s all Behm needs to know.

“Casey is going to be there; we just have to help him out,” Behm said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo