ONALASKA — The Central High School girls basketball team added to its momentum heading into a big MVC matchup later this week with a 58-45 nonconference victory on Monday over a Luther team that has been on a roll.
The RiverHawks (17-5), who are ranked 10th in this week’s Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports media poll, collected their second straight victory and ended a five-game winning streak the Knights (14-9) brought into the game.
Senior and Eastern Illinois commit Alahnna Simpson had 17 points, eight rebounds, eight steals and seven assists for Central, which hosts Logan (5-17) on Tuesday before traveling to the Reinhart Athletic Complex to play first-place Aquinas (21-2) on Thursday.
Junior Ellie Gillitzer added 13 points, six steals, five rebounds and three assists, and senior Emmerson Keeney had 13 points and five rebounds.
Luther was led by sophomore Cara Unke’s 15 points. Sophomore Brinley Schmitz added 10 and sophomore Jaeyda Livingston eight.
The Knights play at G-E-T (3-19) on Thursday. A win and a Viroqua (14-7) victory over first-place Arcadia (16-7) gives them a share of their first Coulee Conference championship since 2008.
Holmen 47, Reedsburg 35
REEDSBURG — The Vikings (14-8) ended a two-game losing streak and head into their final two MVC games — at Tomah on Tuesday, at home vs. Logan on Thursday — with a 5-5 conference record.
Senior guard Macy Kline scored a team-high 16 points, and sophomore Aspyn Archer made three 3-pointers and added 13.
Archer scored 10 points in the first half, and Kline scored 10 in the second half.
Sophomore Makenzie Nunemacher also scored 10 for the Vikings, who beat both the Timberwolves and Rangers earlier this season and are trying to post a winning MVC record for the fourth straight season.
Alma Center Lincoln 65, Melrose-Mindoro 62
MELROSE — The Mustangs (11-12, 9-10 Dairyland-Large) had three scorers reach double figures, but the Hornets held on for the victory.
Senior Anna Radcliffe made four 3-pointers and hit 4 of 5 free throws on her way to a team-high 24 points. She made all of her 3-pointers during a 20-point second half that couldn’t bring Melrose-Mindoro back from a 12-point halftime deficit.
Senior Cooper Zeman also scored all 14 of her points after halftime, and senior Calysta Bautch scored 10 of her 12 in the first half.
The Mustangs now prepare to play at Eleva-Strum (23-0, 19-0 Dairyland-Small) — the state’s top Division 5 team, according to the state media poll — on Thursday.
BOYS
Hillsboro 78, Luther 70
HILLSBORO — Senior Max Huelskamp scored a team-high 20 points for the Knights, but senior David Johnson had 28 points and 21 rebounds for the victorious Tigers.
Junior Logan Pierce added 15 points, freshman Javon Zenke 11, senior Brody Greeno 10 and junior Trent Berg 10 for Luther (11-10), which entered the game with two straight victories.
GYMNASTICS
Holmen 135.15, Onalaska co-op 129.475
HOLMEN — The Vikings picked up a dual victory over the Hilltoppers.
Holmen had the top two finishers all-around with Ava Amundson (34.65) and Carly Nelson (33.2). Onalaska’s Elin Gilles was third (30.55).
Amundson won the floor exercise (9.05) and vault (8.55) and was third on the balance beam (8.7). Nelson was second on the balance beam (8.75) and second on the uneven bars (8.6).
Onalaska’s Allison Komperud won the uneven bars (8.75), and Holmen’s Molly McBride won the balance beam (8.85) to go with a runner-up finish on the floor exercise (8.725).
Holmen’s Maija Kolpitcke and Gilles tied for second place on the vault.
