LA CROSSE — Coach Craig Kowal really didn’t know what to expect from his Onalaska High School boys basketball team on Tuesday.
Illness had wiped out the Hilltoppers over the holiday break, and two games at an invitational hosted in Kettle Moraine had to be canceled.
As his players lined up to tip off with traditional rival Central at the Mark Sutton Memorial Gymnasium, Kowal hoped for the best in their first game since Dec. 20.
“(Monday) was the first day we had everyone available to practice since December 20th,” Kowal said. “We’ve been short-handed, and I had no idea what to expect after two-and-a-half weeks off.”
Onalaska (6-0, 3-0 MVC), which is second in Division 2 for this week’s Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports media poll, then put its coach at ease with a fast start that turned into a 64-53 victory over the RiverHawks.
The Hilltoppers pulled away from a 7-7 tie with a 17-2 run that created separation it maintained through the rest of the game in what is always a significant MVC matchup.
COVID-19 and influenza sunk their teeth into Onalaska over the break and even knocked its coach out of the picture for five days.
Kowal said if the team had to play its scheduled games in Kettle Moraine a couple of days after Christmas, only seven players would have been available.
One by one, the Hilltoppers returned to the fold and managed to prepare themselves for a Central team that was riding a four-game winning streak after a season-opening loss to a Menomonie team that is 7-2.
The RiverHawks (4-2, 2-1) were able to cut what was once a 19-point deficit down to 52-46 when sophomore Jorden Calvert converted a putback with 2 minutes, 47 seconds left, but Onalaska made just enough free throws to keep a safe lead.
Ian Kowal scored a team-high 18 points and had 13 of those in the first 9:17. He picked up his second foul with 13:58 on the clock and spent just 1:15 on the bench before returning and avoiding further foul trouble.
Senior Rowan McGrath drew a foul and knocked down both free throws to give the Hilltoppers a 39-20 lead and 8-0 run to end the first half.
“Give them credit because they have talented players and played very well,” Central coach Todd Fergot said of the Hilltoppers. “But I’m also disappointed in the lack of competitiveness for us in the first half.
“We just backed down to them. We’ve got some things to work on.”
Junior Gabe Servais led the charge in bringing the RiverHawks back and finished with a game-high 21 points. Junior Anthony Jones added nine points for Central, but the Hilltoppers harassed them enough to force a combined 11-for-35 shooting performance.
“I thought our pressure was very good, and I thought Rowan McGrath was outstanding, especially in the first half,” Craig Kowal said. “He was altering and blocking shots using his length.
“If you are going to pressure, having 6 (foot) 7 on the back end helps a lot.”
Seven players scored during Onalaska’s pivotal 17-2 run in the first half. Ian Kowal nailed two 3-pointers and sophomore Bradyn DeLong one. McGrath and junior Brendan Chenault also hit field goal during that stretch, which gave the Hilltoppers a 24-9 advantage with 7:57 left in the half.
Sophomore Tyler Kowal also scored 11 points for first-place Onalaska, which continues its season with a Friday game against visiting Holmen (7-3, 1-1).
