LA CROSSE — Junior Alahnna Simpson scored 26 points to help the Central High School girls basketball team open the WIAA postseason with a win for the 10th season in a row on Friday.
The RiverHawks (18-7), who are seeded second in their Division 2 regional, outscored Reedsburg by 12 points after a tied first half for a 56-44 semifinal victory at the Mark Sutton Memorial Gymnasium.
Central advances to host third-seeded DeForest (12-13) on Saturday for a chance at the regional championship.
Simpson scored 18 of her points as the RiverHawks pulled away in the second half. Sophomore teammate Ellie Gillitzer made a pair of 3-pointers, scored 11 points and had six of the second half.
Aquinas 66, Melrose-Mindoro 26
LA CROSSE — The second-seeded Blugolds (21-4) had little trouble with the Mustangs and advanced to host third-seeded Bangor on Saturday in a Division 4 regional final. The Cardinals advanced with a 61-49 victory over Whitehall.
Junior Sammy Davis and sophomore Ava Fernholz scored 19 points apiece for Aquinas, which held a 34-17 halftime lead, then held Melrose-Mindoro to nine points in the second half.
Davis made 5 of 7 free throws and scored 11 points in the first half. Fernholz made two 3-pointers and had 10 points in the first half.
Twelve players scored at least two points for the Blugolds, who beat Bangor 65-58 on Dec. 7.
Onalaska 45, Sauk Prairie 43
ONALAKA — The fourth-seeded Hilltoppers (14-11) advanced to play at top-seeded West Salem (20-4) in a Division 2 regional final by beating the Silver Eagles.
Senior Jenna Gansen scored a team-high 17 points and made two 3-pointers while scoring 14 of her points in the second half. Sophomore Finley Walters added two 3s and 10 points, and freshman Kayla Ketelhut nine for Onalaska.
Marshfield 67, Holmen 65
MARSHFIELD — The ninth-seeded Vikings (12-12) lost to the eighth-seeded Tigers for a second time and had their season come to a close without an injured Charley Casey.
Holmen had the ball with 22 seconds remaining and the score tied at 65, but a turnover led to Marshfield’s winning points. The go-ahead basket with 10 seconds left represented the Tigers’ first lead since the 13-minute mark of the first half.
Senior Danika Rebhahn made six 3-pointers and scored 18 points for the Vikings, who also received 18 points from junior Macy Kline. Senior Imani Toso knocked down three 3-pointers for nine points.
AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
Division 2
West Salem 70, Tomah 32
DeForest 49, Sparta 39
Division 3
Elk Mound 69, Viroqua 30
Wisconsin Dells 60, Black River Falls 25
Bloomer 58, Arcadia 51
Division 4
Stratford 54, Luther 48
Bangor 61, Whitehall 49
Division 5
Blair-Taylor 61, Cashton 43
