RIVER FALLS — Sophomore Gabe Servais made a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to give the Central High School boys basketball team a 57-56 victory over River Falls on Tuesday.
The RiverHawks (13-7) won their third game in a row to build their momentum heading into Thursday’s MVC game at Onalaska (15-7). Central is tied for second place in the MVC with a 7-3 record, and the Hilltoppers are fourth at 7-4.
Seniors Derrick Pangier and Frankie Wilk scored 16 points each for Central in a game with seven lead changes. Servais had nine, and the go-ahead 3 was his only one of the game.
Pangier also led the team with five assists, and Joey Pretasky grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
Caledonia 66, Winona Cotter 48
CALEDONIA — The third-ranked Warriors (24-2) closed out their regular season with a 13th straight victory by building a 16-point lead after one half and maintaining it against the Ramblers (11-14).
Caledonia won without making a 3-pointer and was led by senior Garrett Konz and his 17 points. Seniors Reid Klug and Ethan Stendel added 14 and 10, respectively.
Freshman Grant King also scored 10 for the Warriors, who made 16 of 22 free throws.
Aquinas 77, Sparta 55
SPARTA — The Blugolds (19-2, 8-2), who are ranked fourth in Division 4 by state coaches, pushed their MVC lead over second-place Central and Holmen to a full game by blasting the Spartans (14-8, 4-6).
Senior Trey Bahr scored 21 points to lead another balanced attack by Aquinas, which has won four in a row heading into Friday’s MVC home game against Tomah.
Bahr scored 15 points in the first half, and junior Logan Becker mad all three of his 3-pointers in the second half on his way to 17 points.
Junior Finley Strom added 14 points and senior Vincent Bahr 12 for the Blugolds, who had a 13-point halftime lead before extending it.
West Salem 80, Westby 58
WESTBY — The first-place Panthers (15-5, 9-0) had a 43-34 lead at halftime and outscored the Norsemen (6-15, 2-8) by 13 the rest of the way.
West Salem made 14 3-pointers, and senior Kyle Hehli had five of them in scoring a team-high 19 points. Senior Jessie Miller added three 3s and 15 points as the Panthers notched their third win in a row ahead of upcoming games at G-E-T and at Onalaska Luther.
Senior Carter Pontius scored 11 points in the first half and finished with 17 for West Salem.
Luther 90, Black River Falls 54
ONALASKA — The Knights (17-5, 8-2) kept the heat on first-place West Salem and scored the first 11 points in a win over the Tigers (6-16, 3-8).
Senior Synclair Byus scored a team-high 26 points to go with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for Luther, which turned that start into a 44-23 halftime lead. His performance helped counter 30 points from Braylon Backaus.
Will Huelskamp added 21 points and 12 rebounds and Logan Pierce 17 points and four 3-pointers while filling in for an injured Jackson Kendall at point guard. Pierce also had four steals
Max Huelskamp finished with nine points and 12 rebounds for Luther, which has won three games in a row.
AREA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
Mauston 68, Viroqua 43
De Soto 66, Brookwood 52
New Lisbon 67, Cashton 42
Royall 78, North Crawford 60
Seneca 75, Boscobel 39
Lancaster 93, Wauzeka-Steuben 50
Ithaca 72, La Farge 59
Wonewoc-Center 63, Tri-County 54
C-FC 71, Augusta 33
Eau Claire Immanuel 69, Pepin/Alma 41
Alma Center Lincoln 69, Hillsboro 33
