LA CROSSE — The Logan High School boys basketball team took its turn to impact the top of the MVC on Thursday night and made its statement with an 81-79 victory over Aquinas at the Steve Hole Field House.
The Rangers (6-10, 1-6) not only picked up their first conference win of the season, they tightened up the race for the MVC lead by cutting in half the first-place Blugolds’ lead over second-place Holmen and Onalaska to a half-game.
Sophomore Jameson Degenhardt scored a team-high 22 points to lead four double-figure scorers for Logan, which trailed by eight points at halftime and by as many as 13 in the second half. The Blugolds (15-2, 5-2) had their four-game winning streak snapped and lost to a team it beat 89-40 earlier this season.
Degenhardt scored 15 of his points in he second half, and sophomore Bubba Leaver added 12 of his 15 after halftime.
The Rangers were also boosted by senior Jacob Hackbarth, who scored 18 points and kept the ball moving around the court in the absence of an injured Bradley Check.
Sophomore Tait Hatlevig also scored 11 for Logan, which had lost eight straight games in the series.
The Blugolds, who host Onalaska (12-4, 4-2) on Tuesday, were led by junior Logan Becker’s six 3-pointers and 20 points, Trey Bahr, a senior, and Calvin Bahr, a sophomore, both scored 15.
Caledonia 78, West Salem 66
CALEDONIA — The Warriors (18-2) won their seventh game in a row and beat the Panthers (12-4) for the second time this season.
Freshman Grant King scored 19 points to lead Caledonia, which also received 17 from senior Mason King, 15 from senior Garrett Konz and 10 from senior Ethan Stendel.
The Warriors set the tone with pressure defense that led to a 16-point halftime advantage. Caledonia then put West Salem away by scoring the first eight points of the second half for a 52-28 lead. Konz had two dunks in the second half.
The Panthers could only get as close as 10 points the rest of the way and were led by senior Kyle Hehli’s four 3-pointers and 25 points. Nathan Dillaber made five 3-pointers for 15 points, and Nathan Karr added 13.
AREA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
Whitehall 66, Eau Claire Immanuel 54
Dodgeville 78, Prairie du Chien 65
