West Salem girls basketball beats Onalaska and is a win away from getting back to state

For the second-consecutive season, the West Salem High School girls basketball team is headed to the Division 2 section semifinals.

The eighth-ranked Panthers got a career-high 20 points from sophomore Josie Buros and 19 from junior Megan Johnson on their way to a 62-47 win Thursday over rival Onalaska at Central High School.

It was the second time West Salem (23-4) beat Onalaska (18-8) this season. The first came Dec. 2, 65-57 at Onalaska — the third game of the season.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, West Salem will face top-seeded and third-ranked McFarland from Baraboo High School.

Last season, West Salem made it to state for the first time since 1997, before losing to Kewaskum 46-34 in the opener.