LA CROSSE — The Logan High School boys basketball team broke into the conference winning column for the first time this season with a 74-62 MVC victory over Sparta at the Steve Hole Field House on Thursday.
The Rangers (2-11 overall, 1-5 MVC) jumped out to an early lead and managed to hold off every run the Spartans could manage to end a five-game losing streak.
Sophomore Henry Bosch scored a team-high 26 points for Logan, which had lost 10 straight games to conference opponents. Junior Ryan Thurman added 16 and junior Harper Kendle and sophomore Tommy Check 10 apiece.
The Rangers next play on Jan. 27, when they travel to unbeaten Onalaska, which is ranked second in Division 2 for the Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports media poll.
Aquinas 80, Holmen 56
HOLMEN — The Blugolds, who are ranked fourth in Division 3 of the state media poll, bounced back from a loss at Central on Tuesday to snap the Vikings’ three-game winning streak at the Bernie L. Ferry Fieldhouse.
Aquinas (13-2, 4-2 MVC) outscored Holmen (10-5, 3-3) by 16 points in the second half and was led by a huger performance from junior Calvin Bahr.
Bahr finished with 29 points on 13-for-16 shooting, made 2 of 3 3-point attempts and pulled down six rebounds for the Blugolds, who also received five 3-pointers and 15 points from senior Logan Becker. Becker also had seven rebounds.
Senior Finley Strom added 11 points and eight rebounds and sophomore Will Dickinson 11 points as Aquinas made 55 percent (32 for 58) of its shots.
The Vikings were led by a 33-point explosion from senior Alex Berget, who made 14 of 19 shots and all three of his free throws. Berget and junior Jayden Bartels each made two 3-pointers, and Bartels finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
Holmen finished 4 for 17 from the 3-point line just a couple of days after making 18 in a win over Logan.
Onalaska 77, Tomah 68
TOMAH — The first-place Hilltoppers (11-0, 6-0 MVC), who are ranked first in Division 2 by the state media poll, held off the Timberwolves to win their 11th straight game.
Sophomore Tyler Kowal led Onalaska with 16 points, and he was one of five players to reach double figures.
Senior Ian Kowal and sophomore Gabe Whited added 14, junior Brendan Chenault scored 12, and senior Rowan McGrath had 10.
Onalaska will play a big nonconference game against Lake Country Lutheran (9-3) at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam on Saturday.
West Salem 84, La Crescent-Hokah 59
WEST SALEM — The Panthers (11-1) ran their winning streak to six games with a victory over the visiting Lancers.
West Salem had a 15-poont lead by the end of the first half and extended the advantage from there. It will take that winning streak to Fox Valley Lutheran (9-5) for a nonconference game on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers had six players make one 3-pointer each and were led by a 22-point performance from senior Tyson Labus. He had 16 of those points in the first half to help his team to a 49-34 lead.
Senior Spencer Kammel added 13 points, and senior Nate Dillaber and junior Drew McConkey had 12 each.
