Kaukauna works overtime to beat Kimberly, leads FVA

KIMBERLY - Thursday night the lead in the Fox Valley Association was at stake when Kimberly hosted Kaukauna in a boys basketball game.

The rivals each entered the game with one loss, so the victor would leave the game with destiny in its hands.

The game lived up to the hype, probably even surpassed it, as the teams couldn’t settle on a winner through regulation. But in overtime, Kaukauna followed the lead of its leading scorer Jason Miller, who scored eight of his game-high 17 points in the extra period, leading the Ghosts to a thrilling, 51-48, overtime win front of a standing-room only crowd.

“We knew it would come down to the end, we were prepared for it,” Kaukauna senior Kyle Schuh said. “That was awesome, right down to the buzzer. We were tied for the conference and we pulled through. We’re in the driver’s seat.”

Kaukauna, ranked No. 7 in the FOX 11 Top 11 boys basketball poll, gave a look early on that an extra four minutes may not be needed.

The Ghosts opened a 14-12 lead after one quarter and then stretched the lead to 24-15 with 3 minutes, 27 seconds to play in the second quarter. And all the second quarter damage was done with Miller on the bench with two fouls.

If the Ghosts could maintain this lead and bring Miller back for the second half, it appeared they were in great shape.

However, Kimberly responded with a 12-2 run to end the first half, including a half-court shot by Bryce Ebben at the buzzer and all of a sudden the Papermakers, No. 10 in the FOX 11 poll, were ahead.

Kaukauna coach Michael Schalow knew the nine-point lead wasn’t safe.

“Never think about that,” Schalow said. “We had the start we wanted on the offensive end. The foul trouble took us a way from some offensive things, especially with Miller.”

The rest of the game was back-and-forth, but Kaukauna opened a 41-37 lead with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter. Certainly not a big lead, but Kaukauna could see the finish line.

But then Kimberly’s Konor Kulas scored to bring Kimberly to within 41-39. Kaukauna then came down and surprisingly forced a drive into the lane and turned the ball over, giving Kimberly a chance to possibly win or tie the game.

Kimberly came back down and worked the ball against the Ghosts’ 2-3 zone and Kulas found Brett Pozolinski open on the baseline and Pozolinski did the rest, dunking the ball with 13.6 seconds left in the quarter.

Miller then had two shots to win it, but neither fell, sending the game into overtime.

“He got on the backside of us,” Schalow said of Pozolinski. “We extended out because we were concerned about their shooters. That was a big play, big shot, but also momentum. Our first thing was we were OK. We’ve been down this road before. We just have to stay the course.”

Kaukauna did just that.

Trailing 45-43 in overtime, Miller converted a 3-point play and Kaukauna never trailed again. Miller hit 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch as the Ghosts paid back Kimberly for their only FVA loss earlier this season.

“At the end the free-throw line was a factor for us again,” Schalow said. “We wanted to get the ball in (Miller’s) hands late.”

After Schuh opened the overtime with a basket for Kaukauna, Miller scored the Ghosts’ final eight points.

“Jason played phenomenal tonight,” Schuh said. “He knocked down his free throws.”

After a desperation 3-pointer from beyond half court missed, Kaukauna players celebrated on their rival's home court.

“I think our seniors demonstrated a lot of composure,” Schalow said. “We didn’t get rattled.”

This was the second straight overtime game for the Ghosts, who eked out a 47-46 double-overtime win over Oshkosh North last week, and the third straight win by six points or less. The experience of playing in close games helped Thursday.

“We were confident; we just came off a two-overtime victory over Oshkosh North,” Schuh said. “We knew what we were doing.”

Kaukauna now is the team to beat in the FVA and Saturday hosts Appleton North. If it takes care of business, a third FVA title will be won in the last five seasons.

Schalow, though, isn’t thinking about a title yet.

“There’s four games left, there is a lot of basketball to be played,” Schalow said. “I get overwhelmed when we look at our schedule. I know we’re going to get tested each time out.”

• Notes: Schuh had 14 points for Kaukauna, while Jordan Kaufman added 12 and Riley Vander Wyst eight. … Kimberly was led by David Klink’s 16 points, while Kulas added 10. … Kaukauna’s two losses this season have each come by one point, including a 49-48 loss to Kimberly. … The Papermakers had their nine-game winning streak snapped and lost their first home game this season (8-1). … Kaukauna snapped a three-game losing streak at Kimberly.
• Game ball: Miller, who was clutch in overtime.
• Numbers game: 8 Overtime points by Miller keyed Kaukauna to its win.

KAUKAUNA 51, KIMBERLY 48 (OT)
Kaukauna……14 12 6 9 10 - 51
Kaukauna… ...10 15 6 8 7 - 48
Kaukauna (16-2, 13-1)
Jordan Kaufman 12, Kyle Schuh 14, Riley Vander Wyst