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No. 4 had the chance to prove its worth against No. 2 on Friday evening during the annual 60Eight Basketball Tournament at Madison College.

The fourth-ranked Hilltoppers of Onalaska stayed with the second-ranked Vikings of Wisconsin Lutheran for a half, trailing just 36-32 at intermission.

However, the outcome of the battle between WIAA Division 2 powers was settled relatively early in the second half as Wisconsin Lutheran remained undefeated behind relentless rebounding and the stellar play of Duke recruit Kon Knueppel.

Wisconsin Lutheran (7-0) out-rebounded Onalaska 37-25 and got 18 second-chance points compared to just eight for the Hilltoppers.

Moreover, Knueppel finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Onalaska simply had no answer for the strong all-around play of Knueppel, the state's top-ranked class of 2024 collegiate prospect.

"We've done a good job of coming out of the locker room at half and playing strong defense," Wisconsin Lutheran coach Ryan Walz said. "We kept them away from the basket and contested their jump shots."

Kon Knueppel, 6-6, Sr., G/F, Wisconsin Lutheran
Fundamentally sound. Smart. Skilled. Unselfish. And physical. Knueppel brings all those attributes to the court each game, and all of those traits were on display against Onalaska. Knueppel's ability to score from deep, off the dribble and from the foul line helped the Vikings pull away in the second half. He also did a great job of crashing the glass and finding open teammates with his excellent court vision. Through eight games after Wisconsin Lutheran's win Saturday over Lakeville North, Knueppel is averaging 24.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists. "It's so hard for Kon every game because opponents are so physical with him, and yet he loves the responsibility of leading the team," Walz said. "And, of course, his teammates feed off him so well."

Oshkosh recruit Logan Rindfleisch (6-5) scored several baskets off feeds from Knueppel in the first eight minutes of the second half and his basket with 11:14 left gave the Vikings an insurmountable 56-40 lead. Rindfleisch finished the game with 21 points, most coming in the second half. He also had three rebounds and three assists for the Vikings.

Alex Greene, 6-3, Jr., G/F, Wisconsin Lutheran
Like several of his teammates, Greene competes with a high degree of physicality. His physical strength and competitiveness off the bench helped Wisconsin Lutheran separate itself from Onalaska in the second 18 minutes. Greene finished with eight points, a rebound, an assist and a blocked shot. "Alex Greene is such a smart kid off the bench for us," Walz said. "He sets good screens and had eight points for us tonight. If we can get guys like Alex and Isaiah Mellock and Zavier Zens to get us six-to-eight points every game to go along with Kon and Logan and Grayson (Young), we will be in good shape."

Wisconsin Lutheran owns wins over Homestead, Arrowhead, Brookfield Central, Onalaska, Lakeville North and Pius XI, among others. The next two games for the Vikings won't be any easier as they encounter WIAA D2 top-ranked Pewaukee on Tuesday before meeting WIAA D3 top-ranked Saint Thomas More at the WBY Shootout after Christmas. "It's been a tough schedule and it gets tougher in our next two," Walz said. "But we welcome the challenge of playing such great teams."

Onalaska rebounded from its first loss of the season to Wisconsin Lutheran by beating Verona on Saturday in the third place game of the 60Eight Tournament ... South Dakota recruit Evan Anderson, who continues to heal from a shoulder injury sustained during the football season, encountered some foul trouble against Wisconsin Lutheran and was limited to just 23 minutes. He finished with 15 points and made some difficult shots over Knueppel ... Senior Isaac Skemp (6-7) had a very strong overall showing for coach Craig Kowal's squad, scoring a team-high 24 points and grabbing five rebounds ... Onalaska is expected to challenge La Crosse Central for first place in the Mississippi Valley Conference as Skemp, Anderson, sophomore Ian Kowal, junior Noah Chenault and senior Adam Skifton form a soilid nucleus for the Hilltoppers.

Lakeville North out of Minnesota hit 12 of its 15 three-point baskets in the first half to take complete control at intermission at 61-32. Six different players connect from deep for Lakeville North in the first half as the suburban Twin Cities school made 12-of-19 tries outside the arc for the game. University of Wisconsin recruit Jack Robison (6-7) finished with 25 points, four rebounds and two assists with future college coach Greg Gard in attendance. Verona competed with spirit until the end, but the Wildcats simply could not overcome their 29-point halftime deficit.

Verona lost its two games at the 60Eight Tournament, losing to a pair of strong opponents in Lakeville North and Onalaska ... The Wildcats' season record slipped to 4-4 under coach Curtrel Robinson ... Juniors Cameron Williams (6-3) and Drew Murphy (6-6) led Verona against Lakeville North by scoring 24 and 19 points, respectively .... Junior point guard Bennett Buss (5-8) of Verona also had a strong outing, turning the ball over just once in 34 minutes while also scoring 11 points and dishing out three assists.

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