WEST SALEM — Senior Trent Oyen had a breakout day for the Onalaska High School boys basketball team is it recorded a significant 81-66 nonconference game at West Salem on Thursday.
Oyen provided a pop off the bench and scored a team-high 20 points as the Hilltoppers won a big game in terms of seeding for the upcoming WIAA Division 2 tournament.
Onalaska (18-3), which is ranked fourth in Division 2 for this week’s Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports media poll, pulled away from a 38-30 halftime lead and beat the fifth-ranked Panthers (19-3) days before the WIAA releases its brackets for the tournament.
Oyen, who averages 6.5 points per game, scored 11 in the first half.
“Trent was a huge spark for us in the first half,” Onalaska coach Craig Kowal said. “They were keying on Tyler (Kowal) and Ian (Kowal) pretty hard, and he made the shots he got and had a nice cut to the basket on another one.”
Ian Kowal added 19 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Tyler Kowal 13 points. Sophomore Gavin McRoberts scored 11 in a game that West Salem trailed throughout but wouldn’t step aside.
“Every time they made a run, we didn’t flinch and answered back,” Craig Kowal said. “We had different people make shots to keep us going.”
West Salem was led by a 19-point performance from senior Tyson Labus and received 16 apiece from junior Drew McConkey and junior Elliott Corcoran.
The Hilltoppers excelled at defending on the perimeter and used a good defensive performance in the lane from senior Rowan McGrath, who helped the team hold its own on the boards without injured sophomore Gabe Whited.
The ability to rebound was a key for Onalaska, which bounced back from a one-point loss to Kimberly on Saturday.
“I thought Rowan really battled,” Craig Kowal said. “He gave up a few inside, but (Labus) was a matchup that concerned us. We also put Brendan (Chenault) in there.”
Tyler Kowal was injured when he hit his head on the floor while trying to secure a loose ball with 7:45 remaining and did not return to the game. The Hilltoppers had a 56-45 lead at that point.
Two wins over Central and one against West Salem should set Onalaska up for a top seed when regional brackets are released.
“The good teams at the top are teams you will have to beat anyway, but this win gives you the chance to play at home Friday and Saturday and makes you feel good,” Craig Kowal said. “We’ll still have to beat (West Salem or Central) again, but I think this solidifies us as a No. 1 seed.”
