The Aquinas High School girls basketball team is going back to the WIAA state tournament for a fifth time in a row, and it isn't representing the Coulee Region alone.
Both Onalaska and Bangor also won sectional championship games Saturday afternoon, and gives the area Division 2, 3 and 4 state qualifiers.
Weisbrod
Junior Jacy Weisbrod scored 36 points as the Blugolds (21-0) beat St. Croix Falls 84-58 at the Reinhart Athletic Center to grab one of four Division 3 spots. Aquinas will travel for the Division 3 state tournament on Friday, playing at Menominee Nation in Oshkosh, Wis.
Semifinal games will be played at 10:45 a.m. and 2:10 p.m. with the championship game at 8:15 p.m. All divisions will play semifinals and finals during the same day.
Bangor (19-2) are state qualifiers for the second straight season after beating Auburndale 67-55 behind a 20-point performance by sophomore Nora Tucker.
The Cardinals will play their Division 4 state tournament at the La Crosse Center on Friday. Semifinals are scheduled for 9:05 a.m. and 12:25 p.m., and the championship game begins at 6:35 p.m.
The Hilltoppers avenged a regular-season loss to Rice Lake by winning 67-55 on Saturday. Second-seeded Onalaska (17-3) knocked off the top-seeded Warriors by pulling away in the second half. Onalaska held Rice Lake to 14 second-half points and outscored it by 15.
The Hilltoppers will also play at the La Crosse Center with a Division 2 semifinal at either 9:05 a.m. or 12:25 p.m. A win there puts them in the championship game at 6:35 p.m.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas junior Alaina Bagniefski (14) shoots a layup over Northwestern's Gabby Risley (4) during Thursday's WIAA Divison 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas junior Alaina Bagniefski (14) goes up for a shot as she gets past Northwestern's Gracie Altman (21) during a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal Thursday at Aquinas High School.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas senior Fiona O'Flaherty (12) goes up for a shot during Thursday's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex. The Blugolds defeated the Northwestern Tigers 63-38.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
The Aquinas High School dance team performs during halftime of Thursday's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas junior Alaina Bagniefski (14) drives past Northwestern's Allison Luoma (23) during Thursday's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas High School fans celebrate a 3-pointer during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal against Northwestern at the Reinhart Athletic Complex. The Blugolds defeated the Northwestern Tigers 63-38.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas sophomore Macy Donarski lines up a free throw during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas junior Jacy Weisbrod (24) goes up for a 3-point shot over Northwestern's Gracie Altman (21) during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas senior Bri Bahr dribbles baseline against Northwestern during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex. The Blugolds defeated the Tigers 63-38.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas sophomore Macy Donarski (2) draws a foul on Northwestern's Allison Luoma (23) as she drives to the rim during Thursday's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas High School girls basketball players walk away after a 63-38 win over the Northwestern Tigers during Thursday's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas sophomore Macy Donarski (2) fires a 3-pointer during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas senior Bri Bahr (11) releases a 3-pointer during Thursday night's 63-38 win over Northwestern in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas sophomore Macy Donarski (2) dribbles the basketball up the court as Northwestern's Brynn Erickson (5) defends during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas senior Bri Bahr (11) defends Northwestern's Tieryn Plasch (1) as she dribbles the basketball up the court during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas girls basketball coach Dave Donarski questions a call during Thursday's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal against Northwestern at the Reinhart Athletic Complex. The Blugolds beat the Tigers 63-38.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas junior Alaina Bagniefski (14) goes up for a shot as she gets past Northwestern's Gracie Altman (21) during Thursday night's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Photos: Aquinas GBB vs Northwestern
Aquinas fans provide support for the girls basketball team during Thursday's WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal at the Reinhart Athletic Complex.
Todd Sommerfeldt
Sports editor
Todd Sommerfeldt has covered sports for the La Crosse Tribune since 2003 after doing the same previously in the Fox Cities and Rock County. He can be reached at 608-791-8208.
