ONALASKA — The Onalaska High School boys basketball team showed by it was given a No. 1 seed for the WIAA Division 2 regional tournament during an 87-60 semifinal victory over visiting Tomah on Friday.
The Hilltoppers (18-7) turned in a complete game by making 13 3-pointers, using balanced scoring and putting the clamps on Tomah’s top two offensive threats.
Junior Ian Kowal scored a game-high 22 points, and junior Tristan Molling scored 18 — all in the second half — as Onalaska beat the Timberwolves (9-17) for the third time this season and earned the right to host fourth-seeded Mosinee (18-7) in a 7 p.m. championship game Saturday.
Mosinee advanced with a one-point win over fifth-seeded Sparta.
Onalaska’s defense also did the job by holding Quinn Gerke and Michael Zastoupil, who average a collective 31.6 points per game, to six. Gerke had four and Zastoupil two, and neither connected on a field goal the entire game.
Broden Steiner added nine points and seven rebounds and Jack Smith eight points for Onalaska.
Central 69, Menasha 52
LA CROSSE — The second-seeded RiverHawks (15-9) advanced by holding the Bluejays (12-14) to nearly 40 points less than they scored in the quarterfinal round.
Central had four players score in double figures to qualify for a home championship game against third-seeded West Salem on Saturday night.
Senior Frankie Wilk led the way with 21 points. He made 7 of 11 shots, all six of his free throws and grabbed four rebounds.
Senior teammate Derrick Pangier made 7 of 9 free throws and scored 17 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.
Anthony Jones added 14 points and five rebounds and Gabe Servais 13 points and four boards for Central, which held Menasha to 30.9-percent shooting (17 for 55) three days after they scored 91 points.
West Salem 77, Fox Valley Lutheran 51
WEST SALEM — The Panthers (18-6) moved on to play Central in the championship game after a physical performance against the Foxes.
Senior Kyle Hehli made three 3-pointers and scored 29 points to lead West Salem, which pulled away from a 38-27 halftime lead and beat FVL (16-10) for a second time this season. Hehli made all of his 3s and scored 18 points in the first half.
The Foxes were within four early in the second half and within 49-42 with 10:30 left before the Panthers scored nine of the next 13 points to pull away. West Salem also scored 14 of the final 19 points to finish off the victory.
Nathan Karr added 18 points and Nathan Dillaber and Drew McConkey nine apiece for the Panthers,
AREA REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 1
Kimberly 80, Holmen 60
DIVISION 2
Onalaska 87, Tomah 60
Mosinee 75, Sparta 74
West Salem 77, Fox Valley Lutheran 51
Central 69, Menasha 52
DIVISION 3
Stanley-Boyd 63, Arcadia 51
Berlin 68, G-E-T 57
DIVISION 4
Aquinas 87, Bangor 45
Fall Creek 58, Osseo-Fairchild 47
Luther 66, Durand-Arkansaw 61
DIVISION 5
C-FC 77, Pittsville 30
Loyal 52, Blair-Taylor 39
Alma Center Lincoln 58, Independence/Gilmanton 37
Potosi 74, Seneca 51
North Crawford 73, River Ridge 52
Highland 79, Ithaca 57
Royall 59, Kickapoo 47
