Pulaski outlasts Onalaska, one win from the state title

MADISON - There’s a saying that’s tied to the Pulaski boys basketball team – a 10-point lead for the Red Raiders is like a 20-point lead for everybody else.

Because of its deliberate style teams cannot afford to fall behind by much against the Red Raiders because the climb back to even is about as difficult as it is to scale Mt. Everest.

OK, that might be a stretch, but you get the idea. Trailing Pulaski isn’t fun.

But defending Division 2 state champion Onalaska proved it can be done. Trailing by nine points late in the third quarter, Pulaski seemed on its way to a state championship game Saturday.

However, Onalaska rallied, forced overtime, but once again Pulaski took the lead and this time never gave it back. The Red Raiders outlasted Onalaska, 46-42, in overtime, punching a ticket to their first-ever state title game against Wisconsin Lutheran.

“I was very worried there; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Pulaski coach Dave Shaw said. “I was concerned. It was a matter of someone stepping up and knocking a shot down.”

Pulaski (23-4) led 30-21, but then its offense went dry. Fueled by Matt Thomas, who entered the game averaging 28.3 points per game, the Hilltoppers (24-3) outscored Pulaski, 10-0, to grab a 31-30 lead with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter.

“We had some issues there in the fourth quarter when they turned up the pressure a bit,” Shaw said. “I think that was a little bit of nerves.”

Pulaski needed a lift and its “other” left-handed sharpshooter came through. While Cody Wichmann gets attention because he’s headed to Milwaukee next season, the Red Raiders have more than Wichmann in their arsenal, and Jordan Stiede proved it.

The point guard hit a 3 to give Pulaski a 33-31 lead and then Thomas sent the game into overtime with a basket.

Onalaska appeared to have momentum entering overtime, but Pulaski felt fine.

“We just needed one basket to stop it,” Wichmann said. “I think Jordan hit a big three and that put the kibosh on that and played with confidence the rest of the way out.”

Stiede (13 points) then hit a 3-pointer to open overtime and Pulaski never relinquished the lead.

“He’s maybe the glue, or the foundation (of our team),” Shaw said of Stiede. “He’s strong with the ball and makes good decisions. I never have to worry about Jordan going out of the coaching plan. He does a great for us and he showed that.”

Stiede said it took a while to get going in the Kohl Center.

“It was a little different shooting out there right away,” Stiede said. “I got a lot of inside-outside looks; they were focusing on Cody and he got me on some skip passes and those are easier shots to make.”

Pulaski also did a nice job on Thomas, who’s headed to Iowa State. Thomas torched Hortonville for 41 points in a sectional final, but he worked for every point, just how Pulaski planned it out.

“We focused on keeping him in check and making him earn everything,” said Wichmann, who scored 17 points.

The Pulaski win was payback of sorts for a game five years ago, when these teams met in seventh grade. Wichmann remembered the loss.

“We played Onalaska in seventh grade and lost by two,” Wichmann said. “Got ‘em in the end.”

Now Pulaski turns its attention to the state title game. The players admitted they were nervous Friday, so what about Saturday?

“I think we were all nervous,” Wichmann said. “You could tell on my first three shots, I couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn.

“It still doesn’t seem real now. Now we have a feel for it. We’re just going to go out and have fun and try to bring home a gold ball.”

• 3-pointers: Pulaski was 15 of 32 from the field, while Onalaska was 13 for 32. … Pulaski was 8 of 18 from 3-point range, while Onalaska was 4 for 11. … Pulaski had 11 assists and 11 turnovers.
• Game ball: Stiede, who came up with some big shots.
• Numbers game: 1 More win and Pulaski will be state champs.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com