Onalaska Handles Foxless Rainier

The Onalaska boys looked sharp as they defeated Rainier 51-46 in a 1A Evergreen League game on Saturday. The loss was only slightly tempered by the fact that Rainier was playing without one of its best shooters in Jacob Fox and the fact that the two teams will meet again on Tuesday night at Rainier. In fact, Onalaska will play three games in four nights as they continue to make up snowed-out and flooded-out games from December and January.

Onalaska's Brady Stanley (#10) hit four threes and hit the last two free throws of the game for 14 points.

The Mountaineers stormed out of the locker room to a 15-9 1st quarter advantage, but Onalaska went on a 10-2 run to start the 2nd quarter and went into the locker room on a 7-3 flourish. Brady Stanley hit threes during the quarter and other points were contributed by Nick Modica, Eric Messal and Zack Barnes.

The Loggers employed an aggressive defense that resulted in several quick baskets after turnovers.

The Loggers largest lead was 41--30 after two Dalton Ritchey free throws with 6:55 to go in the 4th. Rainier went on a 6-0 run with a bucket and two free throws from Kyle North and two points from Bradon Franklin. After a bucket by Ony’s Jeff Swett, Franklin contributed three more free throws as he attracted the physical play of the Loggers and the lead dwindled to just 43-39.

Onalaska may not start any Seniors, but one plays an awfully big role on the team. Erik Messal hit a three with 4:02 to extend the lead to 46-39 and then a minute later he contributed another clutch 2 pointer. Rainier scored two more free throws by North and another bucket by Frankin, but it would not be enough.

Without fellow shooter and floor leader Jacob Fox, Kyle North (#14) kept Rainier in the game and was the overall high point man with 24 points.

Onalaska’s most productive five are juniors and sophomores with only two guys on the roster listed as a forward. The floor leader for Onalaska is Dalton Ritchey. “He missed a couple of early shots and got trying a little too much. But even on a bad night, he is good,” said Onalaska Head Coach Dennis Bower. “He is our floor leader, our emotional leader, he and Brady Stanley. He is just real solid and I feel comfortable with him, even when he is trying to do too much.

The aforementioned Stanley finished with 14 points while Ritchey had 10.

Dalton Ritchey ran the floor for Onalaska and added 10 points to the team's total.

The one senior on the team sits close to the coach though.

It was the performance of Eric Messal that caught the coach's attention. “The kid that hit the big shots down the stretch was a Senior” said Bower He is a great 6th man for us. He hit some big shots for us. Even when he was missing shots early, he hit the big shots.”

Onalaska Senior Eric Messal hit some clutch shots in the 4th quarter.

The Loggers are now 11-0 and 7-0 in league.

RAINIER-Jacob Fox 0, Delton Delio 0, Kevin Volaskey 6, Kyle North 21, Tyler Schaff 1, Mitch McComb 0, Matt Tietjen 0, Brandon Eygabroad 2, Bradon Franklin 9, Chris Ashby 5. FG — 14-41NA; FT — 12-18.
ONALASKA-Brady Stanley 14, Nick Modica 4, Dalton Ritchey 10, Eddie Miles 5, Cody Naillon 4, Eric Messal 12, Jeff Swett 2.

RAINIER 15 6 9 16 — 46
ONALASKA 9 19 12 12 — 51