Wildcat basketball kept their perfect district record intact Tuesday in a home contest with Trinity, winning 84-47 in Onalaska.
The ‘Cats set a blistering pace that they would maintain throughout the game. They fell behind soon after the tip, but led 20-10 after a quarter.
Free throws were an issue, going 1-for-7 in the first half from the line. Yet, the difference continued to snowball on the Tigers. Onalaska had 41 points going into the break, and the team would score at least 20 in every quarter.
“I think we came out like we are supposed to,” Onalaska coach Nick Tyerman said. “We were a little flat at the start of the second quarter, but we played with higher energy and with the pace that we wanted to play at. The only thing that I saw was an issue this game was our free throws. Normally, we knock those down at a good clip. It is one of those things where a district win is a district win, so I'm happy about it. Every once in a while, we get in that mood where we fall asleep on rebounds. We are just kind of standing there watching, but when they refocus, it is hard for them to block us out.”
Onalaska does many of the small things right throughout the game that has contributed to their success. They make the right pass, they do not turn the ball over, and they shoot at a pace that's difficult for opponents to match.
“We are getting there. It is not as good as I would like us to be and I think we can keep getting better,” Tyerman said. “We had some shots selection issues, but I am super proud of them. When you have a target on your back because you're ranked and haven't lost in district, it is easy to sit there and slip up. Every time I have got on them about some slippage issues, they have responded and brought the intensity, and that's what I wanted to see. That is what it's going to take to make a run in the playoffs.”
Spencer Green led the game with 21 points, Devon Vienneau 16, Patrick Roth 14, and Wyatt Reyes 12. For Trinity, Ayden DuBose had 18 points, Terian Maxie 17 and Tristan Bass 10.
Tyerman said there was no way he could have expected the level at which the Wildcats are performing this year.
“We had sophomores that jumped ahead leaps and bounds that is hard to predict. When you’ve got kids that are end-of-the-bench freshmen to then major role players as sophomores, you never know what you’re going to get. It has been tremendous. We lost three starters and five total (seniors) last year.
Trinity coach Colton Jackson was complimentary of the Wildcats’ performance.
“Onalaska can freaking shoot it, man,” he said. “They came out firing in the second half and kind of extended their lead. We didn't convert on turnovers when we needed to. Overall, Onalaska is a good basketball team, so we have to get better and better and keep grinding. We are 16-8 right now and sitting in third in district.
Even with a possible playoff team, the Tigers have plenty of potential to grow.
“We are young and we are relying on a couple of sophomores and freshmen. Our senior went out with a thumb injury tonight and we came up with some good stops and good steals and good baskets. We are learning and growing, and it is going to be a great opportunity for us in the future.”