By Adam Roberts – 2/24/2021

Caledonia BBB Beats Rushford-Peterson 72-69; Improves to 11-1

You have to give credit to Rushford-Peterson, they gave #3 (2A) Caledonia all they could handle last night. Three Trojans scored in double figures, including Luke O’Hare with a 19-4-3 stat line, and at halftime Rush-Pete was in front 40-36. But anyone who has tried to take down Caledonia football over the last decade or so knows that when you get a window of opportunity, you need to step on the gas because the Warriors can always comeback. Austin Klug led the way in the second half and finished with 23 points.

Viterbo MBB and WBB Fall in NSAA Quarterfinals

The postseason push for V-Hawk basketball was short lived, with the men falling to four-seed Dakota State 95-88 and women also losing 59-55. The men did shoot over 50% for the game, including 25 from Onalaska senior Noah Fredrickson, 22 from sophomore Jack Monis and 20 from junior Robert Cunitz, while La Crosse’s Sophie Leinfelder led the V-Hawk women off the bench with 14 points.

Bucks Beat T’Wolves 139-112; Khris Middleton Snubbed for All-Star Game

The Bucks put up 79 first-half points en route to a 139-112 win over the Timberwolves at Fiserv Forum. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 37 points as Milwaukee won its third straight, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Forward Khris Middleton was left of the All-Star reserves list, despite averaging 20.5 points, six rebounds, and a career-high 5.7 assists per game. It would have been his third-straight All-Star appearance. The Bucks continue their home stand tomorrow against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.

By Adam Roberts – 2/23/2021

We had a feeling that the Mayor of Ding Dong City would be with the Brewers in Arizona this spring, and today the organization confirmed that Travis Shaw will in fact be in Maryvale with the team on a minor-league deal.

Shaw’s 2017 and 2018 seasons saw him rack up a .239/.335/.456 average list along with 70 home runs and 62 doubles, though his production dipped considerably in 2019 with just a .157 average in 86 games played. Shaw was non-tendered after the season and spent 2020 with Toronto.

Milwaukee plays their first spring training game February 28th against the White Sox.

By Adam Roberts – 2/22/2021

I had a feeling the month of February would fly by once I learned that the abridged WIAC men’s basketball season would be just eight games and be wrapped up by the end of the month. And sure enough, here we are in the final week of the season.

The UWL men and women are taking on Platteville this Wednesday and Friday, and the men in particular will be facing a tough task of downing an 11th-ranked Pioneers team fresh off a two-game sweep of Whitewater. It should be a good playoff primer for the Eagles though, who are currently 5-1 after their win Friday against Stout.

The first round of postseason match ups are also set. The UWL men will be the one-seed in the West Division and face the East’s four-seed Stevens Point. Platteville is the other one-seed and gets a by to the semifinals.

By Adam Roberts – 2/22/2021

This year has of course brought about numerous changes to the way we conduct sports, and life in general. But one thing remains the same: the Aquinas girl’s basketball team is back at state. And this year they’re being joined by two other programs.

The Blugolds, Onalaska, and Bangor are all still alive in their quest for a state title. And we now know who each team will face in the semifinals and when.

First, at the La Crosse Center the Cardinals will take on three-seed Mineral Point on Friday at 12:25. The Pointers have taken down Darlington, Potosi/Cassville, Waterloo, and Fennimore to reach this point while Bangor has defeated Mel-Min, Cashton, and Auburndale (Hillsboro forfeited their sectional semifinal). The winner will face either top-seed Mishicot or the Crickets of Fall Creek that evening at 6:35.

In Division 3, the Blugolds open up the Menominee Nation Arena’s slate of playoff basketball against Westfiled at 10:45 Friday morning. The Pioneers were the class of the South Central Conference this year and have racked up 20 wins, while Dave Donarski’s Blugolds are once again the team to beat with an undefeated 21-0 record. The winner plays either Lake Mills or Howards Grove, who notably defeated Aquinas in the 2017 state final, later that evening.

And back at the Center in Division 2, the Hilltoppers get perhaps the toughest draw having to face 26-1 Notre Dame. The Sarah Rohde coached team has three players averaging in double figures and their only loss was to an excellent Kimberly team back on December 5th. The winner gets either New Berlin Eisenhower or Reedsburg that evening.

By Adam Roberts – 2/19/2021

With news about the WIAA Division 2, 4, and 5 girl’s basketball state semis and finals coming to the La Crosse Center, there certainly is some intrigue going into this weekend’s high school basketball playoff games. There’s a chance for three girl’s teams to make the state semis tomorrow, with two of those teams possibly playing at the Center.

In Rice Lake, the Onalaska girls will visit the Warriors in Division 2. The Hilltoppers defeated Medford on Thursday to reach this point, and a win Saturday would be a monumental step forward for Shane Schmeiling’s program. Keep an eye out for Olivia Gamoke; another 20+ point performance could be the barometer for success tomorrow, and it Molly Garrity compliments Gamoke with at least 10, I think Onalaska should advance.

In Division 4, Bangor advanced to tomorrow’s sectional final by way of a Hillsboro forfeit, but don’t think for a second that the Cardinals didn’t earn their spot. 18-2 Bangor took a loss on the fifth to a very formidable Royall team in stride, and coach Merlin Jones’ ladies have looked excellent since. As for Aquinas, if they take down St. Croix Falls tomorrow, they’ll take a 21-0 record to the Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh in a fifth straight state appearance.

Running alongside these games are the boy’s regional semis and finals. Undefeated and #1 Onalaska begins a hopeful run to state against Black River Falls while West Salem looks to upset Tomah (6:45 tonight on ESPN La Crosse 105.5 and espnlacrosse.com). Aquinas also begins their playoff run as a one-seed in Division 3 hosting Mondovi while elsewhere a 2-3 game pits Viroqua against Poynette. And our area has three Division 4 games tonight as Blair-Taylor hosts Plum City, Bangor faces division rival Cashton, and one-seed and perhaps the most slept on team in the area Luther welcomes Mel-Min.