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OK. A little context here.

Cuba City's Jerry Petitgoue is in his 51st season as the head coach of the Cubans following four years as head coach at the now-closed Gratiot High School. 

He won his 1,000th career game Saturday as the Cubans defeated invading Carmen Northwest of Milwaukee, 91-69.

Let's put this into perspective ... no other boys' varsity basketball coach in Wisconsin history has ever coached 1,000 games much less won 1,000 games.

Ralph Larson of Winneconne is No. 2 in terms of total varsity boys' games coached in state prep laurels with 966 (he won 531). 

Additionally, Petitgoue now stands 350 victories ahead of the state's second winningest coach of all-time, Bob Letsch of Racine St. Catherine's.

A long-time history teacher, Petitgoue retired from the classroom 20 years ago, but now at 81, he remains razor sharp and more than willing to adapt his coaching techniques to fit the personnel of his team.

He's also eager to learn new things from fellow coaches.

"The one thing we sometimes fall into as coaches is saying things like 'we are a man-to-man team and that's what we are going to do no matter what,' " Petitgoue said following the contest. "Not me. I'm too anxious. 

"You don't get here by yourself. What separates me? I'm constantly learning. I'm constantly striving to improve."

To the west in Minnesota, Petitgoue moved within 12 games of tying Bob McDonald, who won a state-record 1,012 games during his long coaching career in Minnesota at McGregor, Barnum and Chisholm. 

To the south in Illinois, Petitgoue is within shouting distance of Gene Pingnatore, who won 1,035 games at Westchester St. Joseph before passing away at the age of 83 in 2019. 

In the United States, precious few high school coaches had their longevity or success of Petitgoue. 

The measuring stick for many is probably Morgan Wooten, who won 1,274 games at DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the first high school only coach to earn such an honor.

An unofficial list of high school coaches in America who have reached 1,000 victory can be found here. 

Petitgoue almost didn't get to this point.

Following the 2016-17 season when Cuba City finished 7-16, Petitgoue said he was ready to retire from coaching.

"I was ready to hang it up after winning just seven games in 2016-17," he said. "I'm not a good loser. And then the Olsons moved into town and that made a difference."

Petitgoue is referring to Cuba City superintendent Aaron Olson, whose two sons, Brady and Carter, have been stars on the Cubans' teams the past several seasons.

"People ask me all the time about when I am I going to retire," Petitgoue said. "I tell them I've been retired for 20 years and now I get to do my hobby."

Ryan Petitgoue, an assistant coach at Cuba City and a former player at the school, feels his father will continue to coach into the future as long as his health remains good.

"My dad talks about retirement at the end of every season with my and myself," Ryan Petitgoue said. "This is a hobby for him. He doesn't golf. Basketball is synonymous with Jerry Petitgoue. I don't think he'll ever retire. He just loves working with kids."

Jerry Petitgoue, who has made enormous contributions to the Wisconsin basketball scene as the long-time executive director for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association, always says he has a pecking order for his life -- family first, religion second and basketball third. 

Of course, those three things mix well.

His wife, Joan, and children Mark, Ryan and Michelle all attended the contest against Carmen Northwest.

Many former players also were in attendance, including former Mr. Basketball-award winner Greg Timmerman as well as Michael Tranel, a star on the Cubans' team in 1975-76.

Father David Flanagan of St. Rose Catholic Parish in Cuba City also was in attendance for the historic contest. 

"We want to win basketball games, but in the end we want to make our guys better men," Petitgoue said. "That's what it's all about. 

"I will go out one of these days, there is no doubt. But the Cuba City program will live on."

In large part, because of the culture built over the past 51 years by Jerry Petitgoue.

As for the game itself, Carter Olson and Max Lucey led the Cubans to the convincing victory over a quick, athletic but young Carmen Northwest team. 

Olson scored 28 points and used his speed, quickness, shiftiness and athleticism to keep Eagle defenders off balance all game. 

The 6-foot-0 senior point guard is averaging 20.8 points and 4.6 assists while helping the Cubans to victories in 16 of 17 games.

Carmen Northwest took a 28-27 lead with 6:40 left in the first half on a three-point basket by sensational sophomore Dupree Fletcher Jr., but Cuba City responded with a 20-4 run to end the half. The Cubans' spurt was led by the leadership and aggressiveness of both Olson and Lucey.

Lucey, a 6-foot-4 wing player, got off to a hot start for Cuba City, nailing three triples early in the contest. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds while also putting pressure on the Carmen Northwest defense with his ability to get to the basket and free-throw line. 

Cuba City made its 47-32 halftime lead stand up during the second half as the Cubans received solid contributions from reserve Cody Houtakker (7 points/10 rebounds), Mason Reese (10 points/3 triples), Ian Hinderman (8 points/6 rebounds) and Carter Niles (8 points/3 rebounds).

"I like my team," Petitgoue said. "I think we are developing some very good depth. Cody Houtakker had a huge game for us off the bench. Ian Hinderman played very well as did Carter and Max, of course. We are playing well right now."

Fletcher, the son of former Milwaukee King star Dupree Fletcher, used his speed, aggressiveness and superb quickness to constantly get into the lane.

His 36 points matches his career best set earlier this season in a victory over Fridley of Minnesota. 

In addition to making layups and floaters in the lane, Fletcher also made three shots from outside the three-point arc and got to the foul line for the Eagles, who fell to 8-5 under coach Branden Joseph.

Thirty fouls, three disqualifications and four technical fouls didn't help Carmen Northwest, which also got 13 points from junior guard Ta'Quioron Tribune and 10 from sophomore wing Jermaine Jones. 

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