CUBA CITY — Coach Jerry Petitgoue picked up his 850th career victory at Cuba City High School last Friday night, but the legendary Hall of Fame coach was more excited that the victory moved the Cubans into a tie for first-place in the SWAL boys’ basketball standings.
The Cubans added to their coach’s already impressive career resume by taming the visiting Boscobel Bulldogs, 67-43, in a SWAL contest played at CCHS on Friday, Jan. 5.
Petitgoue is comfortably in the lead as the state winningest coach after amassing an incredible 912 victories during his 51-year coaching career, and Friday’s win moved his record to 850-223 in his 47 seasons at Cuba City.
And, when the night ended, the Cubans found themselves in a four-way tie for first-place in the SWAL after Mineral Point knocked off league-leading Southwestern, 85-56. Fennimore joined those three in first-place after defeating Darlington, 61-42, in another SWAL game on Friday night to also move to 3-1.
The Cubans (6-3 overall, 3-1 SWAL) opened strong on both ends of the floor and built up a 33-17 advantage over the Bulldogs (1-10, 0-4) by the end of the first half.
In the second half, the Cubans tacked on another eight points to their lead after outscoring Boscobel by a 34-26 margin to put the game away.
Sophomore guards Brady Olson and Jackson Noll scored 19 and 16 points, respectively, to lead the Cuba City attack.
Olson added 10 rebounds for a double-double, and he led the team with three assists and three steals.
Freshman Jack Misky added eight points, while juniors Brayden Holzemer and Jake Langmeier chipped in with seven points apiece.
Mitch Davis netted 14 points and Justin Miller followed with 13 for the Bulldogs.
Cuba City returned to the home court on Monday, Jan. 8, to host the Platteville Hillmen (10-3) in a high-scoring non-conference affair.
Former Cuban All-SWAL guard Isaiah Oswald, who transferred to Platteville this school year, hit a pair of early 3-pointers to spark a 10-0 Hillmen run.
Platteville added two treys apiece from Andy Eggers and Cade Rohrbach as well as eight points apiece from Connor Riley and Donovan Blevins to open up a 36-25 halftime advantage.
After being out-gunned from 3-point range 6-0 in the first half, the Cubans came out firing from long-range in the second half and shot their way back into the game. Threes by Jackson Noll, Brady Olson, Jake Langmeier and Blake Robson fueled a 23-12 scoring run which evened the score at 48 all midway through the period.
The Hillmen went back on top by as many as seven with less than five minutes remaining until Noll poured in five straight points to deadlock the score once again at 60-60 with 4:15 to go.
Oswald buried a 3 just moments later to put the Hillmen back ahead to stay, and the guests connected on six of their 10 free throw attempts in the final minute of the game to seal the 71-68 victory.
Five players scored in double figures for the Cubans led by Noll and Olson with 17 points apiece. Jake Langmeier added 11 for Cuba City, while Brayden Holzemer and Jack Misky chipped in with 10 points apiece.
Misky also pulled down 11 rebounds to record a double-double. Olson tallied seven boards, five assists, two steals and a blocked shot for the Cubans.
Riley finished with a game-high 20 points for the Hillmen. Oswald, Rohrback and Blevins netted 14 apiece, and Eggers tallied nine for the guests.
The Cubans has a key SWAL game at Southwestern on Thursday, Jan. 11, and then returns home to host Iowa-Grant in a league game on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
Boscobel………. 17 26 – 43
Cuba City……… 33 34 – 67
Boscobel– Marks 4, Davis 14, Heisz 1, Ward 4, Davidson 3, Russell 1, Miller 13, Knowles 3. Totals – 16 8-16 43.
Cuba City – Blake Robson 3, Brayden Holzemer 7, Jackson Noll 16, Jack Misky 8, Bryce Hinderman 1, Riley Richard 2, Preston Bousley 4, Brady Olson 19, Jake Langmeier 7. Totals – 23 17-28 67.
3-point goals– B 3 (Davis 2, Davidson 1), CC 4 (Robson 1, Noll 3). Total fouls– B 23, CC 20. Fouled out– B: Ward.
Platteville……… 36 35 – 71
Cuba City……… 25 43 – 68
Platteville – Eggers 9, Blevins 14, Rohrbach 14, Oswald 14, Riley 20. Totals – 25 12-20 71.
Cuba City – Blake Robson 3, Brayden Holzemer 10, Jackson Noll 17, Jack Misky 10, Brady Olson 17, Jake Langmeier 11. Totals – 24 14-19 68.
3-point goals– P 9 (Eggers 2, Rohrbach 4, Oswald 3), CC 6 (Robson 1, Noll 2, Olson 2, Langmeier 1). Total fouls– P 16, CC 20. Fouled out– CC: Holzemer.
