Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

It appeared to be business as usual for the Lourdes Academy basketball team with about six minutes left in the Knights' Trailways East Conference confrontation with host Wayland Academy Monday night.

Lourdes, which had never lost to Wayland, was ahead 63-54 and had all the momentum in an intense battle waged for first place in the league standings. 

But in the blink of an eye, Wayland came storming back. 

Playing in the spacious Wayland Academy Field House before a very loud crowd, Wayland used steals, three-point shots, free throws and big shots in the lane to go on a 16-0 run en route to a 78-69 triumph.

After 12 previous losses to the Knights, Wayland had achieved its first win over the Trailways Conference power and in the process improved to 5-0, its best start since the 1998-99 team went 21-2 and won its first 10 games under the late Eli Crogan. 

Like many of the Wayland teams of the past, the 2022-23 Big Red squad features players from across the globe.

Starting forward Ugur Can (6-5), a muscular and athletic presence in the post, hails from Istanbul, Turkey. He finished with a team-high 17 points. 

Starting point guard Emre Kocer (5-11), who had 31 points in a recent win over Valley Christian, moved to the United States about seven years ago from Istanbul. He had 14 points and started Wayland's 16-0 spurt with a steal and layup with 5:34 left in the contest. 

Starting wing Diego Perez (6-1) scored 10 of his 11 points in the final minutes of the contest and drilled four straight foul shots to help Wayland hold off Lourdes. He is from Puerto Rico. 

Sophomore guard Jermaine Gonzalez (6-0) had 16 points against Lourdes and made a huge three in the closing minutes of the contest. He is also from Puerto Rico. 

Top reserve Sam Porras (5-9), a sophomore who scored two big hoops while also providing energy on defense, is from Costa Rica.  

Among the top six players in the program, just senior guard Drew Benson (6-1) is a local. The Columbus native hit four three-point shots and finished with 14 points for the Big Red. 

P.J. Osvald, now in his 14th season as head coach at Wayland, was particularly pleased with the way his team shared the basketball.

"We had five players score in double figures," he said. "We emphasize sharing the ball. Especially with this team because everybody can score. We want our guys to go get their points or go get points for your teammates with your passing."

Lourdes' patience on offense and balanced scoring helped the Knights build their 63-54 lead after the teams battled to a 35-35 deadlock at intermission. 

The 16-0 rally began with a steal and layup by Kocer, followed by a three-point basket by Benson. 

After a difficult shot fell in the lane for Perez, Kocer came up with another steal and layup to tie the game at 63 with 4:00 minutes left. At this point, a frenzied Wayland student section made so much noise it likely could be heard on Highway 151 about a mile away.

A big three-point basket by Gonzalez and solid free throw shooting gave Wayland the lead and eventually the victory.

"Momentum is quite a thing," Osvald said. "We needed to make two or three shots to put some pressure back on Lourdes, and we did that. Our rally also energized us on defense. We were flying all over the gym."

Wayland plays another title contender in the Trailways East tonight as Central Wisconsin Christian invades the Wayland Field House.

"It doesn't get any easier for us with CWC coming in," Osvald said. "CWC was the preseason favorite to win our league and with good reason. They have a very good team led by a really good player in Will Syens."  

After rattling off four victories to open the season, Lourdes tasted defeat in a difficult manner Monday.

The Knights needed to make two or three more plays with the lead to drive away from Beaver Dam with a victory, but those plays never came. 

Afterward, first-year Lourdes coach Brett Baehman was quick to credit Wayland. 

"They hit some threes and got it to within four and sped us up a bit," Baehman said. "Our inexperience showed a bit. But hat's off to Wayland. They hit shots when they had to. 

"This is really good for our team to play in this environment. We have to learn from this and stick to our fundamentals while also learning how to put teams away."

Lourdes, which started four juniors and played just one senior in the contest, built its 63-54 lead with a very patient offense and pinpoint passing. The Knights' scored off backcuts to the basket while also knocking down 11 three-point shots. 

"We were staying patient with our offense and we told our guys if we stayed patient, we'd get good shots," Baehman said. "But then they sped us up and we rushed a bit. 

"It was a good high school game and a lot of fun. We were ready and they were ready."

Juniors J.J. McKellips (6-4), Mitchell Wing (6-1) and Calvin Tollard (6-1) all scored 17 points for Lourdes, now 4-1 heading into a game Thursday against Valley Christian. 

McKellips, a varsity performer since his freshman year, battled foul trouble throughout the game, but did hit four three-point baskets.

Wing and Tollard competed with a very high skill level and made big plays on both ends throughout the contest. 

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark by clicking here.