ONALASKA — Alahnna Simpson made her return to the court, and that meant a lot for the Central High School girls basketball team on Thursday.
Simpson, who missed four games after injuring her front teeth during a collision while playing against Aquinas on Jan. 20, scored 20 points and handed out six assists as the RiverHawks won a big 50-43 MVC game at Onalaska.
Central (15-4 overall, 7-2 conference), which is ninth in Division 2 for this week’s Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports media poll, knocked the third-place Hilltoppers (14-6, 5-4) from the title picture and kept itself alive behind Aquinas (18-2, 9-0) with three games to play.
“This was very important to us,” said Simpson, who sat out losses to Eau Claire Memorial, Holmen and Fall Creek and a win over Sparta. “We really needed this, especially to get back in the flow of things.
“We need to get some more wins and be ready for the playoffs.”
Simpson said sweeping Onalaska during the regular season provides a boost in that direction, and more opportunities await the team in the form of a nonconference game at Wisconsin Dells (18-0) — ranked sixth in Division 3 — on Saturday and conference finale at Aquinas — ranked fourth in Division 3 — on Feb. 19 as two of them.
The RiverHawks made five of their eight 3-pointers in the first half to take a lead they held the rest of the game.
Junior Ellie Gillitzer made two of them, freshman Ellie Apuan added two, and Simpson hit one as Central took a 32-22 lead to the second half.
Simpson, who had her top two, front teeth knocked out of their sockets against the Blugolds, scored 15 of her points in the first half and got into a rhythm quickly after taking her first shot.
“I didn’t think I’d be back this quick,” The Eastern Illinois commit said. “It was just a healing process and I healed a little faster than expected. I’m just glad to get back out there.”
Apuan added 14 points and Gillitzer 10 for Central. Onalaska, which played without injured sophomore and leading scorer Kayla Ketelhut (ankle), was led by 10-point performances from junior Mara Klein and sophomore Kenzie Bauer.
West Salem 75, Westby 29
WESTBY — The first-place Panthers (12-6, 8-1 Coulee) have sole possession of the lead after winning their fifth game in a row and for the seventh time in eight games.
Senior Josie Brudos erupted for 35 points and made eight 3-pointers for the Panthers. She scored 25 points in the first half and has averaged 25 points over her past three games.
West Salem had a 41-19 lead by the end of the first half before holding the Norsemen to 10 second-half points.
Sophomores Ava Hendrickson and Anna Witte added 18 and 10 points, respectively, for West Salem, which leads second-place Arcadia (8-2) by a half-game and plays at Luther (10-8, 5-3) on Friday.
Luther 56, Viroqua 42
ONALASKA — The Knights (10-8, 5-3) knocked the Blackhawks (13-5, 7-2) out of their share of the Coulee lead and dropped them a game behind first-place West Salem.
Sophomore Cara Unke made four 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 24 points that helped Luther win for the third time in four games. Unke made all of her 3-pointers during a 16-point first half that put the Knights in front 37-26.
Sophomore Brinley Schmitz added 13 points with eight of them coming in the first half.
Melrose-Mindoro 67, Osseo-Fairchild 34
MELROSE — The Mustangs (10-9, 8-7 Dairyland-Large) won their third game in a row behind an 18-point performance from senior Anna Radcliffe, who has scored 70 points over the past three games.
Melrose-Mindoro had an 18-point lead after the first half, and Radcliffe scored 16 of her points to build that lead.
Senior Cooper Zeman scored a team-high 19 points and had 11 of those in the second half. She is averaging 15.5 points over her past four games.
Junior Bristol Coats made three 3-points and added 11 points for the Mustangs, who try to stretch their winning streak to four in a game against Alma/Pepin (10-9, 7-9) on Friday.
Stewartville 66, Caledonia 57
STEWARTVILLE — The Warriors (17-6) were outscored by 13 points in the first half and couldn’t make up the difference in the second.
Senior Aubrie Klug scored a game-high 29 points, but no other Caledonia players reached double figures.
Senior teammate Nicole Banse scored seven.
