Kaukauna defense too much for North

Updated: Tuesday, 03 Jan 2012, 11:26 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 03 Jan 2012, 11:18 PM CST

APPLETON - Every Fox Valley Association boys basketball team knows by now when you play Kaukauna you’re going to be put through a grinder and you’ll be lucky to survive.

Tuesday night, Appleton North had the unenviable task of hosting the FVA co-leading Ghosts and a Lightning win would catapult it into the mix for the league title.

For most of the game, North was up to the task, but an 11-0 run by the Ghosts that started late in the third quarter proved too much as Kaukauna maintained a share of first place in the FVA with a 42-31 win in the FOX 11 boys game of the week.

“We knew coming over here to Appleton North … it was going to be a challenge for us,” Kaukauna coach Michael Schalow said. “It was a fight from beginning to end. We’re very fortunate to go on the road and get this win.”

Kaukauna, ranked No. 6 in the FOX 11 Top 11 boys basketball poll, entered the game not allowing any team to score 50 points against it this season and was allowing 41.9 points per game. The Ghosts did nothing to hurt those numbers.

Kaukauna allowed 12 first-half points as North shot 5-of-20 from the field. Problem was, Kaukauna scored just 16 first-half points and also was 5-of-20 from the field.

The offensive struggle continued until late in the third quarter. Paul West nailed a 3-pointer to give North a 22-21 lead, but little did anyone know it would be North’s final lead.

Kaukauna scored 11 straight points to open a 32-22 lead early in the fourth quarter as it hit 5-of-7 shots. And the way Kaukauna plays defense, the Lighting had little chance to rally.

Schalow said the 11-point run was a matter of getting his top scorers the ball.

“Early on we had some opportunities where we just didn’t finish the play,” Schalow said. “The first half we just didn’t shoot the ball well. In the second half, I thought we got Kyle Schuh a couple touches … we were able to get Jason Miller on the open side and attack a little bit.”

Kaukauna’s offense rallied in the second half by making 8-of-13 shots on its way to a 26-point half.

“We view ourselves as a lot more explosive offensive team than what we demonstrated tonight,” Schalow said. “Yet, we take a lot of pride on our defense. Tonight, this was a good defensive effort for our team.

“We credit our guys for just hanging and stay the course when things didn’t come easy.”

While Kaukauna’s offense woke up, the defense never rested. North made just 12-of-44 shots for 27.3 percent and only reached 10 points in one quarter.

“Our defense has been really good this year,” Miller said. “They also missed some shots they could’ve made, but I give our defense a lot of credit.”

Kaukauna’s win keeps it tied with Kimberly atop the FVA. Entering the season, not much was being said about the Ghosts being an FVA-title contender, but its defense has led the Ghosts to the top of the FVA.

Miller knew all along his team would be there.

“We knew we were going to come out really tough,” Miller said. “We work hard in practice every day so we knew we were going to be a good team. Hopefully, we can keep rolling.”

Added Schalow: “We’ve had a great start. Our team has responded very well. We have some depth. Hopefully, we can finish up the first half and be with a lead in the conference and close it out in the second half.”

• Notes: Brent Radlinger led Kaukauna with 10 points, including 8-of-9 from the free throw line. … North was led by Trace Sonnleitner and Jared Dudley, who each scored eight points. … Kaukauna was 8-for-11 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 4-for-4 from the field. … Appleton North plays at Fond du Lac on Friday, while Kaukauna plays at Menasha on Saturday.
• Game ball: Jon Vande Wettering, who scored all five of his points in Kaukauna’s 11-point run.
• Numbers game: 27.3 Percent is what North shot from the field.

KAUKAUNA 42, APPLETON NORTH 31
Kaukauna…...........10 6 10 16 - 42
Appleton North…...5 7 10  9 -  31
Kaukauna (8-1, 6-1)
Jason Miller 6, Kyle Schuh 8, Jordan Kaufman 6, Riley Vander Wyst 5, Brent Radlinger 10, Neil Fullarton 2, Jon Vande Weterring 5. 3-PT: 2 (Vande Wettering 1, Radlinger 1). FG: 13-33. FT: 13-17. Turnovers: 12. F: 11. Fouled out: None.
Appleton North (5-4, 4-3)
Trace Sonnleitner 8, Connor Gross 2, Jared Dudley 8, Mike Lukashewich 4, Nate Otto 4, Paul West 3, Ryan Albers 2. 3-PT: 5 (Sonnleitner 2, Dudley 2, West 1). FG: 12-44. FT: 2-4. Turnovers: 10. F: 18. Fouled out: None.

doug.ritchay@wluk.com