LA CROSSE — The Central High School boys basketball team is a WIAA Division 2 regional champion for the first time since 2023 after another big defensive effort led to a 61-39 victory over Fox Valley Lutheran at the Mark Sutton Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday.
The second-seeded RiverHawks (22-4) held the third-seeded Foxes (16-10) to 16 points in the first half and to 22.9-percent shooting (11 of 48) for the game.
The performance gives them a sectional semifinal against fourth-seeded West Salem (22-4) at a local neutral site on Thursday.
Junior Ezra Wiese scored a team-high 14 points for Central, which also received 11 points to go with eight rebounds from junior Gabe Servais and nine points, seven rebounds and five assists from junior Anthony Jones.
Central led 34-16 at the half and allowed no Fox Valley Lutheran players to each double figures in scoring.
The RiverHawks get a rematch with the Panthers, whom they defeated 68-50 near the end of the regular season.
Caledonia 58, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 55 (OT)
ROCHESTER — The sixth-seeded Warriors used eight overtime points from sophomore Grant King to beat the second-seeded Cougars in an MSHSL Section 1AA semifinal at the Mayo Civic Auditorium.
Caledonia (18-10), which beat third-seeded Cannon Falls 61-58 in a quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday, next plays top-seeded Goodhue (28-1) at the Mayo Civic Arena on Thursday. That section championship game tips off at 8 p.m.
King made two 3-pointers and finished with 26 points for the Warriors, who have won three games in a row and six of their past eight.
Senior Aaron Stemper and sophomore Colin Stemper each added eight points for Caledonia, which went to overtime tied at 48 before King made two field goals and four free throws the rest of the way.
West Salem 50, Onalaska 48
ONALASKA — Junior Drew McConkey’s bank shot from the lane with 7.4 seconds left broke the 48-48 tie, and Onalaska sophomore Tyler Kowal missed a corner 3-pointer as time expired on John Shelton Court at the Chuck Deeth Fieldhouse.
The Panthers (22-4) got some revenge for a regular-season loss to the Hilltoppers (21-4) and will try to do the same against Central in the sectional semifinals.
Senior Tyson Labus led West Salem with 15 points, while senior Nate Dillaber and McConkey added 13 each. Gavin McRoberts scored a game-high 16 for Onalaska.
Read more about this game in a separate story on the website.
Division 4
Eau Claire Regis 99, Luther 75
EAU CLAIRE — The Knights (15-12) were outscored by double figures in each half in a loss to the Ramblers.
Senior Max Huelskamp made 11 of 14 shots and scored 28 points for Luther, which made 13 of 24 attempted 3-pointers. Freshman teammate Javon Zenke made 7 of 12 shots and added 22 points.
Junior Logan Pierce made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points for Luther, which trailed by 15 points after one half.
