LA CROSSE — The Central High School girls basketball team won its second game of the week after being elevated to the No. 1 position in Division 2 for the Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski media poll.
The RiverHawks (12-0 overall, 5-0 MVC) also moved into a first-place tie with Aquinas (12-2, 5-0) at the top of the MVC with a 60-51 victory over third-place Onalaska (10-4, 3-2) at the Mark Sutton Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday.
The Hilltoppers found themselves down by seven points at halftime and were able to get within five in the second half, but Central was able to hit the big shots when needed to maintain the lead.
Central senior Alahnna Simpson, and Eastern Illinois commit, scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as the RiverHawks extended their season-opening win streak.
Junior Ellie Gillitzer added 15 points by making 4 of 6 attempts from the 3-point line and grabbed eight rebounds. Freshman Ellie Apuan also scored 11 for Central.
Sophomore Kayla Ketelhut scored 20 points to lead the Hilltoppers, who had won their previous five games. Junior Natalie Marso added 10 and junior Mara Klein nine.
Logan 55, Richland Center 36
RICHLAND CENTER — The Rangers (3-10) ended a four-game losing streak behind a big game from senior Kaia DePaolo.
DePaolo scored 23 points and had 18 of them in the first half to get Logan on the winning track.
Junior Emma Bacon added 10 points and senior Kenna Streeck and freshman Amayah Rocha eight each for the Rangers, who scored more point than they had in a game all season.
Melrose-Mindoro 66, Augusta 59
AUGUSTA — The Mustangs beat the Beavers for the second time this season and used a 32-point explosion from senior Anna Radcliffe to do it.
Radcliffe made one 3-pointer in each half and scored 21 points in the second half as Melrose-Mindoro tried to pull away from a 30-26 halftime lead. She is averaging 21.6 points per game this season and has made 31 3-pointers.
Senior teammate Cooper Zeman added 19 points and made four 3-pointers — two in each half. She has also made 31 3-pointers this season.
Caledonia 91, Lewiston-Altura 51
LEWISTON — The Warriors (12-3) made nine of their 12 3-pointers in the first half in a rout of the Cardinals.
Senior Nicole Banse poured in a game-high 31 points and has 54 in two victories this week. She is averaging 15 points per game, made four 3-pointers against Lewiston-Altura and had 29 of her points by the time the Warriors had a 65-29 halftime lead.
Senior Aubrie Klug made seven of those 3s and added 30 points for Caledonia, which won its fifth game in a row. Klug is averaging 25.8 points per game this season.
