HOLMEN — The Central High School girls basketball team didn’t get the start it wanted, but a good finish allowed it to sew up second place in the MVC standings on Thursday.
The RiverHawks scored eight of the final 10 points and fought off a stubborn Holmen 51-44 at the Bernie L. Ferry Fieldhouse.
Junior Alahnna Simpson had 30 points and 15 rebounds to lead Central (17-5, 9-2), which trails first-place Aquinas (19-3, 11-0) by two games with one remaining.
“We talked about getting 17 wins, which is the most we’ve had since I’ve been (coaching),” Central coach Quartell Roberson said. “That’s a good accomplishment.
“We wanted to win conference, right? That didn’t happen but we set other goals that this team is accomplishing, and they should be proud of themselves.”
Simpson scored 17 points in the second half and made 12 of 16 free throws. She also had one of three offensive rebounds her team grabbed in the final 58.1 seconds. Simpson converted hers into a putback basket that triggered the 8-2 run the RiverHawks — playing without injured senior Maya Whitaker — ended the game on.
The third-place Vikings (10-11, 7-4) scored the first nine points of the game but let Central slowly claw its way back in. The RiverHawks had the game tied at 19 by halftime.
“That always happens when we come here,” Roberson said. “Holmen is always ready to go for us here, but we just had to slow down a little bit and take it one possession at a time.
“Alahnna did get aggressive in looking for her shot, and that helped.
Senior Danika Rebhahn opened the second half with a 3-pointer, and freshman Makenzie Nunemacher followed with a jumper in the lane to push Holmen’s lead to five, but nine straight points by the RiverHawks put them in front for the first time. Simpson scored four of those points and sophomore Ellie Gillitzer gave Central a 28-24 lead on a 3-pointer with 12:39 on the clock.
The Vikings took their final lead at 32-29 when junior Charley Casey converted a three-point play and followed that with another free throw. Simpson then scored Central’s next six points, and Holmen never led again.
Casey scored 15 points, and junior Macy Kline added 14 for the Vikings, who host Onalaska Luther on Monday and play at New Richmond on Tuesday. The RiverHawks host Eau Claire Memorial (20-2) on Tuesday.
Aquinas 59, Winona Cotter 48
WINONA — The Blugolds (19-3) won their 18th game in a row by beating the Ramblers (16-8).
Senior Emma Dobbins made four 3-pointers and scored a team-high 16 points for Aquinas. She has made seven 3-pointers and scored 35 points in her last two games.
Junior teammate Sammy Davis, who earned a scholarship offer from Bradley University on Thursday, finished with 15 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists. Sophomore Ava Fernholz had 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
The Blugolds, who host Wisconsin Rapids Assumption (21-1) on Tuesday, also received two 3-pointers and nine points from sophomore Oliva Passehl.
Caledonia 62, Cannon Falls 23
CALEDONIA — The Warriors (22-3), who are ranked fifth in Class AA, held the Bombers to 12 points in the first half and 11 in the second to win their fourth game in a row heading into their final regular-season game of the season at Fillmore Central on Friday.
Eight players scored for Caledonia, which has only lost to Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa (18-3), Aquinas (19-3) and Goodhue (20-4).
Junior Aubrie Klug made a pair of 3-pointers and scored a team-high 18 points. Senior Josie Foster added 13 points, Jessica Stendel nine and Sienna Augedahl eight with two 3s.
AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
Bangor 58, Necedah 28
Cashton 54, Wonewoc-Center 34
Royall 44, New Lisbon 43
Blair-Taylor 74, Augusta 44
Independence/Gilmanton 41, C-FC 23
Whitehall 55, Eau Claire Immanuel 39
Melrose-Mindoro 63, Pepin/Alma 61
Eleva-Strum 60, Alma Center Lincoln 26
De Soto 60, Seneca 38
Ithaca 51, La Farge 32
Kickapoo 64, North Crawford 45
Wauzeka-Steuben 75, Riverdale 36
