Onalaska’s run through the playoffs was extended Tuesday night with a 62-52 victory over the Franklin Lions in the regional semifinals.
The game, played in Madisonville, was a tale of two halves for the Wildcats. Franklin was able to slow the pace over most of the first two quarters, working for the open shot on offense and getting back quickly on defense. Onalaska struggled shooting and missed rebounding opportunities.
Yet, they still hit on four 3-point attempts and did enough to keep pace with the Lions. Franklin’s main weapon, Cemaurion Smith, was able to drive, draw fouls, and score 10 points in the first half. He would be even more dangerous in the second half.
But it was in that second half that Onalaska flipped a switch. Franklin hit the first two field goals after the break, and Onalaska trailed 29-20 early in the period. From that point, the ‘Cats outscored the Lions 42-23 until the final buzzer.
“In the second half, we were able to speed them up like we wanted to,” Tyerman said of the difference in play. “That is a testament to our kids. We want to play fast every game, but moreso this game we wanted to make sure that we were fast on the defensive end to get them to speed it up. They were very much play-oriented, because a lot of them are football kids, so I noticed on film they are constantly looking at their coach for plays and where to go and what to do. We wanted to take that away from them and not let them be comfortable. We got to do that in the second half, but didn't do a great job in the first half.”
Just as they have all year, the team by the lake used the long-range jumper to get back in it. Five 3-pointers were part of a 21-point third period.
“In the second half, we came out and just wanted it more than we did in the first half,” Onalaska guard Wyatt Reyes said. “We knew that we could beat them and they are a very beatable team. We just had to come out and play with intensity and just do what we do. We all came together as a team and talked about what we needed to do, and we just did it. We executed. A law of averages, as coach always says. The shots will fall, keep shooting.”
By the middle of the fourth quarter, Onalaska found a way to cut off Smith from driving to the basket. He caused much of the Wildcats’ defensive problems with his ability to create shots and find open teammates off the dribble. That propelled the team to a 21-11 difference in the final quarter.
“We just made sure that we kept pushing each other to do the best we can. We were not on it with our defense in the first half,” senior Dante Leleux said. “We knew coming out in the second half that the first adjustment was that defense and that intensity and doing what we are supposed to do. It is just the simple adjustments, and it took away a lot. It really just gave us good opportunities to transition on offense.”
Leloux said once shots began to fall, confidence began to rise.
“It starts helping everything. It is really just believing in ourselves and we have to believe that we can beat the team, but know that it's not going to be easy. We have to come out here and we have to fight for it no matter what. Every game is a challenge, but you still have to be able to believe that you can just fight through and take on every team.”
Onalaska’s Spencer Green led with 19 points, Devon Vienneau 13 points and Leleux nine. For Franklin, Smith topped all scores with 24 points, Landon LeBouf 13 and A.J. Phillips 11.
The Wildcats seem comfortable in the playoffs despite a lack of postseason experience. Tyerman said much of that is due to how the coaching staff framed the regular season.
“I kind of trumped up every tournament as if it's a playoff run,” the coach said. “It was focused on winning one championship at a time. We won all three varsity tournaments we were in, we won a district championship, and we've won each round, because it's about trusting and understanding. Even though we haven't been here before, for them this is all we've done all year. It has carried over and I can't thank them enough for trusting in me for that. It is hard for kids to buy in and really believe in something like that. But that is what they have done, and I can't thank them enough.
Onalaska is now 32-6 on the season and will next take the court 7 p.m. Friday in the Aldine Campbell Center. Hitchcock, at 26-8 and No. 3 in the state, awaits the Wildcats in the regional finals. They defeated Mexia, the state’s No. 6 team, at the buzzer Tuesday night 50-48. The Bulldogs also beat Crockett (75-49) and East Chambers (60-45) in the brackets.
