ONALASKA — They moved quickly, and they ran with purpose.
They moved the ball with consistency and shot it with accuracy. They made life miserable for their opponent.
Onalaska High School boys basketball coach Craig Kowal wanted to see his Hilltoppers play hard in Tuesday’s season opener against visiting Wisconsin Rapids and was all smiles after watching them cruise to an 83-35 nonconference victory.
Senior Ian Kowal knocked down shot after shot — several with a hand in his face — and junior Brendan Chenault and sophomore Tyler Kowal pressured the heck out of every Wisconsin Rapids ball-handler as turnover after turnover was converted into points.
The Hilltoppers (1-0) wasted little time in showing why they are ranked sixth in Division 2 in this week’s Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports media poll.
“The things we talked about before going out there were effort — playing rally hard — and genuinely being there for each other and sharing the ball,” the coach said. “Sometimes that goes away during the course of a game, but I felt like our guys were genuinely excited for each other.
“Effort and caring for your teammates are two pretty important things when it comes to this game.”
Ian Kowal made five 3-pointers and scored 17 of his team-high 26 points in the first half as Onalaska jumped out to a quick double-figure lead and maintained it the rest of the game.
The Red Raiders managed to get within 13-8 on an early 3-pointer by sophomore Walker Schmitt, but the Hilltoppers scored the next eight points and 21 of the next 24 to assume complete control. Kowal had 17 of Onalaska’s first 30 points.
While Kowal dominated early and scored all of his points before sitting out the final 12 minutes, Onalaska had 12 players score as it pushed the tempo and showed off its depth.
“I loved that,” Ian Kowal said of everyone getting the chance to play as the team took the first steps in figuring out its identity. “We all celebrate each other, and it’s important that we stay connected.”
While the offense flowed, the defense was what stood out.
Chenault and Tyler Kowal make have been at the forefront of the performance, but everyone in a white jersey defended and made just about everything difficult for the Red Raiders, whose biggest run of the game was a 5-0 spurt that cut their deficit to 42-18 near the end of the first half.
“We have a couple of injuries, but with the depth we have, I think we can get after teams a little more than we have in recent years,” Craig Kowal said. “I thought we pinned our ears back pretty good there.
Ian Kowal was the only scorer to reach double figures for Onalaska, but Chenault and senior Trent Oyen scored eight points apiece, and Gavin McRoberts, Tyler Kowal, Rowan McGrath and Wylder Burch all had six.
