ONALASKA — A steal and layup by DeForest High School sophomore Jayden Doedens was enough to push Onalaska over the edge on Tuesday night.
The play capped a five-point run that gave the Norskies a seven-point lead with 10 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first half of a nonconference game at the Chuck Deeth Fieldhouse and prompted Onalaska coach Craig Kowal to call a timeout.
That was the end of the line for DeForest.
The Hilltoppers responded to that run by cutting off all passing lanes and turning up the ball pressure as much as they could.
That resulted in the Norskies scoring just four more points the rest of the half and Onalaska pulling away for a 72-42 victory in a game they once trailed 19-12.
Onalaska (4-0), ranked second in Division 2 for this week’s Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports media poll, followed that timeout by finishing the first half with a 28-4 run that was continued with the first six points of the second half.
Shots were tough for DeForest to even find as players spent most of their time trying to avoid turnovers.
When sophomore Gavin McRoberts knocked down a 3-pointer for a 46-23 Onalaska lead a minute into the second half, the outcome had long been determined.
“We switched on the perimeter and we just contested every pass,” Kowal said. “We were able to sub there and get the first little break, and when they came back, I think we wore them down.
“We kept the pressure on and the pace up and made it difficult for them.”
And then, as Kowal pointed out, there was senior guard Trent Oyen.
While junior Brendan Chenault and McRoberts were able to kick off that run, Oyen added spark with his defense and made four shots in the last 3:21 of the half. A spin in the lane was followed by an easy hoop on the break. He then added a 3-pointer and a steal and layup for produce the halftime score of 40-23.
“We had guys off the bench doing great, and Trent was one of them,” said McRoberts, who scored a team-high 23 points and tied sophomore Gabe Whited for the team lead with 10 rebounds. “I give Trent props tonight.”
Oyen finished with 11 points, and nine of them came during that stretch of 3:21 in the first half.
The 30-point victory is Onalaska’s closest game of this season and dropped DeForest (4-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten.
McRoberts has averaged 20.7 points in three games since making his debut as a Hilltoppers with six in a win over Wisconsin Rapids. McRoberts averaged 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a freshman at Melrose-Mindoro before a transfer to Onalaska.
The 6-foot-2 sophomore has been a seamless fit for the Hilltoppers.
“Gavin plays so well off of our guards,” Kowal said. “He’s the perfect complement to our guards.”
