The Onalaska basketball girls took a 75-13 loss Friday night to the Lady Bulldogs of New Waverly.
New Waverly is currently on top of District 23-3A and showed why in a lopsided game over the Lady Cats. A press did not allow Onalaska beyond midcourt often, and New Waverly shot the ball with accuracy. The game was decided around midway through the second period, as the Lady Dogs had built a commanding 39-2 lead.
The Onalaska program has suffered losses through injuries and others leaving the program. There are now just six members on the varsity, with no junior varsity squad.
“At the beginning when I had everybody – it is a hard sport, you have to be in shape for basketball, you have to run,” new Lady Cat coach Kenesha Saygo said. “Some didn't make the cut, unfortunately, and it happens. You deal with those, but dealing with the injuries, that's been hard. It's definitely been hard for the girls, but they are showing up and they are trying. I told them (when the season started) that our motto for the year was to compete. Now, dwindling down to six and losing our top three, we have to survive. Every day that we come in here and every day that we are at practice, they just have to compete and have heart. To play hard and have effort – that is all we can do.”
For the game, Brailey Linear led Onalaska with eight points, while Shaylan Linear had five.
There is hope on the horizon, but it will take a bit to impact the varsity squad.
“I'm really looking at the eighth graders that are coming up,” Saygo said. “I have a couple in mind who I think can give the varsity level a big help for next year. It all comes down to who wants to work hard. Who is willing to sacrifice themselves for something that is greater than themselves? Not everybody wants to do it, and that is fine. I want to take the ones who want to and that are willing to give that extra effort.”
Saygo said she has a period during the school day with the eighth graders and believes that group is also working hard. They are adjusting to a new coach as well, but the group is said to catch on quick.
“They are hungry and they are ready to get after it for next year, whether they make J.V. or they make varsity.”
There is probably no better time in the Onalaska athletic program to be an eighth grader than now. Numbers will be in favor of those entering high school who excel over the next year.
The coach from Killeen says she enjoys the small-town feel of Onalaska and is still adapting a bit after coming from a bigger district.
“You have to adjust to the different style of kids that you have, the different coaches, and the different teachers. You try to bring in your own culture and still try to take in what they offer. It's been different. The kids that I have been working with this year have had a big mentality change. There are a lot of growing pains with what we have going on this season, but I think they are really starting to understand that they can be counted on. It is really just getting your confidence level up. I tell them that as their coach, I can coach X’s and O’s and I can be there for you to give you a push, but if you don't have the confidence in yourself there's not much we can do.”
The injuries have mounted as the season has progressed, starting back in early December. The program could benefit from sponsorships with a crutch or knee brace supplier. The Lady Cats are currently 9-19 overall and 0-5 in district. They will host Anderson-Shiro Tuesday if weather does not postpone the contest.