LA CROSSE — The Aquinas High School boys basketball team seemed to do anything it pleased in qualifying for the WIAA Division 4 regional championship round on Friday night.
The top-seeded Blugolds lit up ninth-seeded Bangor for 50 points in the first half on the way to an 87-45 semifinal victory over the Cardinals at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Aquinas (21-3) beat Bangor (11-15) for the second time this season and advanced to host fifth-seeded Fall Creek (18-8) in a title game Saturday night. The Blugolds beat the Crickets 60-47 during the Midwest layers Classic at the La Crosse Center in January.
Nine Aquinas players scored in a game they led by 23 points at the half, and sophomore Calvin Bahr’s 22 points led all scorers. The Blugolds made 9 of 10 free throws, and Finley Strom hit all three of their 3-pointers and finished with 13 points.
Vincent Bahr and Trey Bahr added 12 points apiece, and Logan Becker had nine.
Luther 66, Durand-Arkansaw 61
DURAND — The sixth-seeded Knights (20-6) knocked off the third-seeded Panthers (19-6) and qualified to play a Division 4 championship game at second-seeded Eau Claire Regis (19-6) on Saturday night.
Senior guard Jackson Kendall knocked down three 3-pointers and scored a team-high 17 points for Luther, which made 18 of 23 free throws and made six 3-pointers in a game it led 32-25 at the half. Kendall added five steals and five assists.
The Knights also received 15 points from Synclair Byus, 13 points and 17 rebounds from Will Huelskamp and seven points, seven rebounds and three assists from Max Huelskamp.
DIVISION 3
Stanley-Boyd 63, Arcadia 51
ARCADIA — The fourth-seeded Raiders had their season end at 13-12 at the hands of the fifth-seeded Orioles, who performed well from the 3-point line at the Wanek Center.
Arcadia cut an 11-point halftime deficit to 41-36 in the second half but couldn’t get any closer.
Senior Ted Teske made a 3-pointer and scored 14 points to lead the Raiders. Senior Nolan Smith added 13 points and sophomore Carter Wegman nine.
AREA REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 1
Kimberly 80, Holmen 60
DIVISION 2
Onalaska 87, Tomah 60
Mosinee 75, Sparta 74
West Salem 77, Fox Valley Lutheran 51
Central 69, Menasha 52
DIVISION 3
Stanley-Boyd 63, Arcadia 51
Berlin 68, G-E-T 57
DIVISION 4
Aquinas 87, Bangor 45
Fall Creek 58, Osseo-Fairchild 47
Luther 66, Durand-Arkansaw 61
DIVISION 5
C-FC 77, Pittsville 30
Loyal 52, Blair-Taylor 39
Alma Center Lincoln 58, Independence/Gilmanton 37
Potosi 74, Seneca 51
North Crawford 73, River Ridge 52
Highland 79, Ithaca 57
Royall 59, Kickapoo 47
