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.