WEST SALEM — The West Salem High School girls basketball team pushed its lead in the Coulee Conference to a full game by handing visiting Arcadia a 72-31 defeat on Thursday night.
The Panthers (16-3, 9-0) padded their lead over second-place Onalaska Luther (15-4, 8-1) by winning their fifth game in a row.
Senior Megan Johnson scored a game-high 30 points and has averaged 23.4 points over her last five games for West Salem, which had a 40-20 lead after one half. Johnson made two -pointers and scored 20 of her points before halftime.
Brynlee Kelly and Sydney Quick each added seven points for the Panthers, who next play at Westby on Feb. 11.
The third-place Raiders (11-9, 6-4) scored just 11 second-half points and were led by sophomore Tatum Drazkowski’s 14 points. She made two 3-pointers.
Luther 56, La Crescent-Hokah 36
LA CRESCENT — The Knights (15-4) were led by senior Macie Neumeister’s four 3-pointers and 22 points for their sixth win in seven games.
Neumeister made 4 of 8 attempts from the 3-point line and 6 of 13 shots overall. She also made 6 of 7 free throws and had nine steals for Luther, which also received 11 points from senior Allie Zittel and eight points, four rebounds and four steals from senior Payton Holub.
Zittel made three 3s and had four steals, and junior Kayla Schiebel and freshman Brinley Schmitz tied for the team lead with five rebounds.
The Knights, who bounced back from a loss to Aquinas on Monday, host Black River Falls on Tuesday.
Mauston 49, Logan 29
LA CROSSE — The Rangers (4-15) came up short in their bid for a second straight win and play next at Holmen on Friday.
AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
Aquinas 55, Central 50
G-E-T 46, Black River Falls 44
De Soto 94, Postville 22
Blair-Taylor 43, Whitehall 31
Wauzeka-Steuben 50, Ithaca 25
Kickapoo 53, Seneca 28
