Five Takeaways From Kaukauna- Green Bay Southwest
Pulaski, WI- On multiple occasions, it looked like Green Bay Southwest was going to be able to secure a win and advance to the sectional finals. With 5:38 remaining, the Trojans held a 59-49 lead. After that point, Kaukauna put on…
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Continue ReadingPulaski, WI- On multiple occasions, it looked like Green Bay Southwest was going to be able to secure a win and advance to the sectional finals. With 5:38 remaining, the Trojans held a 59-49 lead. After that point, Kaukauna put on a vicious press that allowed them to eventually come back in an improbable way. Credit the Ghosts for not giving up and pulling off a stunning 66-63 victory. Here are some takeaways from Kaukauna’s nail-biting victory…
Donovan Ivory Is As Good As It Gets In Wisconsin High School Basketball
The last time I saw Donovan Ivory play, I said he was as good as it gets in the FVA… I was wrong. Ivory is as good as it gets when it comes to Wisconsin high school basketball in general. Ivory put his team on his back and led them to victory. Donovan led his team in scoring with 22 points, took two charges, including the one that fouled out Southwest’s Will Pytleski, and tallied the game-clinching block. Donovan Ivory is a special talent who impacts all aspects of the game with his length and athletism. If it wasn’t for Ivory’s terrific performance, Green Bay Southwest would be celebrating a sectional semifinal victory.
Green Bay Southwest Proved Themselves.
While they did not have quite enough to win the game, Green Bay Southwest clearly proved how good they were. Southwest led Kaukauna for most of the game, but they were unable to hold off the Ghost’s late rally. Due to their lack of big-time wins, the legitimacy of the Trojans was questioned. Despite their heart-wrenching loss, I can now confidently say that this squad did belong in the top tier of teams in D-2.
Kaukauna Got Just Enough From Ferris, Jedwabany, and Newhouse
Donovan Ivory was the Ghost’s most valuable player, but Kaukauna got just enough production from Keaton Ferris, Logan Jedwabany, and Jacob Newhouse.
Keaton Ferris only scored ten points, but he was a good facilitator, took care of the ball, and was very efficient. Ferris does not need to score to have a positive impact on the game.
Logan Jedwabany was coming off a ridiculous 37 point performance in the sectional finals. Jedwabany tends to be a streaky player on offense. Last night, Jedwabany was not necessarily on a hot streak, but he was not cold either. He scored 15 points, including the game-tying tip-in with just over two minutes left in the game.
Jacob Newhouse, who has had a phenomenal junior season, came up big for the Ghosts. With Kaukauna trailing by one, Newhouse made two free throws that put his team in front for good. Newhouse finished with 13 points in the Kaukauna win.
The FVA Is One Of The Best Conferences In Wisconsin
The Fox Valley Association may not have some of the big names that many other conferences hold, but when it comes to winning games, there are not too many other conferences who have had as much success as the FVA. Last year, Oshkosh North and Kaukauna both won the state championship for their division. Already in this year’s tournament, the strength of the FVA has been on display. After last night’s crazy results, the FVA now has two teams who will have an opportunity to win a sectional championship and make it to the Kohl Center.
Will Pytleski’s Terrific Senior Season Comes To An End
Green Bay Southwest’s loss can not be pinned on Will Pytleski. Pytleski led all scorers with 30 points and did everything that he could to try to drag his team to a victory. If you want to see the impact that Pytleski had, look no further then after he fouled out. After he was whistled for an offensive foul and forced to sit, Southwest did not look nearly as good as it did when Pytleski was playing. We will never know what would have happened if Pylteski did not foul out, but the game could have had a much more interesting finish if he was able to be on the court.