A big MVC victory on Saturday was enough to propel the Onalaska High School boys basketball team to the top of the Division 2 state media poll released by Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports on Monday.
The Hilltoppers (5-0), who beat Division 3-ranked Aquinas (3-1) 77-68 at the Reinhart Athletic Complex over the weekend in their closest game of the season, overtook last week’s No. 1, Slinger (5-2).
Slinger, Wauwatosa West (5-2), Beaver Dam (4-1) and Nicolet (3-2) own the No. 2 through No. 5 spots in Division 2.
Onalaska, which began the season sixth before moving up to fourth and second the following two weeks, next plays during the Culvers Winter Invitational at Kettle Moraine on Dec. 27-28. The Hilltoppers open with a semifinal against Sheboygan North (4-1). Stoughton (2-2) and Lake Country Lutheran (3-1) play in the other semifinal with winners and losers matching up the second day.
The Blugolds maintained their No. 6 spot in Division 3 after losing for the first time this season. Division 3 is led by Racine St. Catherine’s (4-1), which is followed by No. 2 Racine Lutheran (5-1), No. 3 Freedom (7-0).
Aquinas will host a holiday tournament that also includes North Crawford, Maple Northwestern and Portage on Dec. 29-30. Aquinas plays Portage in the second semifinal at 7:15 p.m.
Central and Aquinas held the same positions as they had last week in their respective divisions of the girls poll.
The RiverHawks (5-0), which hosts Wisconsin Rapids Monday night, has won its past two games over Holmen and Sparta by a combined 58 points Central will play a couple of games at an invitational hosted by Sauk Prairie on Dec. 29-30.
The RiverHawks play Sauk Prairie (3-3) at 1 p.m. the first day and Reedsburg (2-5) at 11 a.m. the second.
Milwaukee Pius XI (8-0) is first in Division 2 and followed by No. 2 Beaver Dam (6-1) and No. 3 Rice Lake (4-1).
Aquinas (7-1) holds down the No. 8 spot in Division 3 after running its winning streak to seven games. The Blugolds opened their season with a loss to second-ranked Kettle Moraine Lutheran (9-0).
The Lasers follow No. 1 Oostburg (8-0) and remain ahead of No. 3 Edgerton (6-0) in Division 3.
The Blugolds will play at Minnesota power Caledonia (7-1) on Dec. 27 and at Sun Prairie West (3-7) on Dec. 30 over the holiday break.
