MENOMONIE, Wis. – For a half, the Onalaska High School boys basketball team stuck with Rice Lake.
But in the end, 6-foot-10 Henry Ellenson and fifth-ranked Warriors were simply too much.
Rice Lake ended at the Hilltoppers’ season with a 62-48 victory in the WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal in front of over 2,000 fans.
Ellenson, who is signed to play for Marquette next season, had 31 points, 19 rebounds. He scored 17 of those in the first half, though Onalaska (16-9) was down just 26-22. A 19-8 third-quarter run by Rice Lake (20-5) all but did in the Hilltoppers.
Tyler Hughes scored 19 to lead Onalaska. No other players on either team finished in double figures.
DIVISION 3
West Salem 69, ARCADIA 51
OSSEO, Wis. – It’s hard to make a comeback when your opponent shoots over 87 percent.
That’s what West Salem put Arcadia through in knocking off another No. 1 seed. At 1 p.m. Saturday, the Panthers play top-seeded and No. 1 ranked Prescott (24-1) in the section final at UW-Eau Claire.
West Salem (15-10) shot 14-for-16 in the second half, after going on an 11-0 run to end the first, where they led 35-26. The Raiders shot just 7 of 25 in the second half.
Billy Tremain and Baily Williams combined for 42 points in the win. Tremain scored 16 of his 21 in the first half, including a 4-of-5 effort from beyond the arc. Williams finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Rob Hoesley scored 15 and Zach Pronschinske added 12 for Arcadia (21-4), which was ranked 11th in the final Division 4 AP poll.
The two teams split their regular-season meetings.
DIVISION 4
MELROSE-MINDORO 75, PARDEEVILLE 49
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Erick Christopherson scored 24 points and Aaron Scafe added 17 as Melrose-Mindoro, ranked 12th in the final AP poll, moves on to the sectional final.
At 1 p.m. Saturday in Baraboo, Wis., the Mustangs (19-6), who were up 36-18 at half on Pardeeville (13-12), will play third-ranked Mineral Point (24-1).