La Crosse Central-Onalaska Standouts
ONALASKA — In a battle of the top two teams in Division 2, No. 2 Onalaska (11-1) topped No. 1 La Crosse Central (7-1) 73-61 to grab hold of the Mississippi Valley Conference lead… Carson Arenz – 2020 –…
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Continue ReadingONALASKA — In a battle of the top two teams in Division 2, No. 2 Onalaska (11-1) topped No. 1 La Crosse Central (7-1) 73-61 to grab hold of the Mississippi Valley Conference lead…
Carson Arenz – 2020 – F – Onalaska
Arenz seems to have gotten a little bigger and a little more athletic since July. The senior forward had some nice drives to the basket and has improved his ability to score off the bounce inside and out. Arenz had a really nice second half and finished with 14 points. He got to the foul line consistently, cashing in on 7-of-10 attempts. Playing 34 minutes, Arenz also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists. UW-La Crosse was on hand to watch him play in front of a sold out crowd.
Johnny Davis – 2020 – SG – La Crosse Central
If Davis continues to shoot the ball this well, he’s going to be next to impossible to stop at any level. The Wisconsin commit came out and just stroked a couple of jumpers, scoring 10 of the first 12 for Central. Davis would go on to finish with 32 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in the loss. After scoring 21 in the first half, Davis saw constant double teams and when he attacked the hole, there were three and sometimes four defenders meeting him at the rim. That didn’t stop Davis, who lived at the foul line after halftime and relished the contact. Davis was 10-of-15 from the charity stripe and scored his 32 points on an efficient 21 shots.
Sam Kick – 2021 – PG – Onalaska
Kick came up with 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists. A steady, skilled, and high-IQ guard, Kick hit two timely 3-pointers on Friday. Kick jump started an Onalaska run in the first half as the Hilltoppers pulled within two at the break. When the Red Raiders were mounting a run, he then buried a corner triple. The junior guard operated well out of the pick n’ roll all night. One of Kick’s biggest weaknesses in the past was he was too passive on the floor. He’s definitely changed his mindset and can put pressure on a defense without scoring — getting his defenders on his hip, forcing defenders to help and recover, and just making the right basketball plays that lead to high percentage, rhythm looks for his teammates.
Victor Desmond – 2021 – SF – Onalaska
Desmond played the best ball we’ve seen out of him. The junior wing has started to tap into his high upside and really play confidently. Desmond has a good blend of strength and bounce at 6-foot-4. Desmond looked really good when he put the ball on the deck and attacked the basket. With the Davis twins forced to guard other threats of Onalaska’s, Desmond got favorable matchups and made Central pay. Desmond scored 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench. He also grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists. With Gavin McGrath in foul trouble, Desmond played a huge 25 minutes for the Hilltoppers.
Dakota Mannel – 2020 – PG – Onalaska
Onalaska probably couldn’t be happier with their senior point guard. Mannel was calm and collected all night and when it was his turn to make something happen, he consistently delivered. Mannel contributed a team-high 16 points, many of which put an end to Central runs. Down the stretch, Mannel delivered from the free throw line. Icing the game, Mannel was 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. A smooth scorer, Mannel made good decisions off the pick n’ roll and also flashed some ability to break defenders down and glide to the bucket. Mannel also finished with six rebounds and three assists in the win.