ST. JOHN GIRLS 36, LA CROSSE 34 — Defending league champion St. John built a 34-22 lead and held off a La Crosse rally 36-34 in Thursday's Central Prairie League girls basketball game.

Lydia Reed led the Tigers with 12 points and Mia Meyer added 11 points. The Tigers built a 18-13 lead keyed by a 13-0 second quarter.

The Tigers (11-4, 4-0 CPL) broke a 22-22 tie when Mia Meyer tipped the ball to Lydia Reed. Averi Fisher dished to Meyer for a 3-pointer. Karly Rockenbach drilled a 3-pointer. Reagan Bonner and Reed followed with field goals for a 34-22 lead.

La Crosse's Molly Showalter and Madison Morgan converted 3-pointers to slice the lead to 36-34. Meyer and Bonner hit the Tigers' final two free throws.

St. John 5 13 9 9 — 36

La Crosse 13 0 9 12  —34

ST. JOHN (11-4, 4-0)—Reed 6-7 0-4 12, Meyer 4-9 (2-2) 1-2 11, Bonner 2-8 (1-3) 1-6 6, Rockenbach 2-3 (1-1) 0-0 5, Jaylyn Fisher 0-1 2-4 2, Averi Fisher 0-4 0-0 0, 14-32 (4-9) 6-16 36 

LA CROSSE (7-5, 2-2)—Madison Morgan 6-17 (1-4) 0-0 13, Molly Showalter 3-11 (2-8) 0-2 8, Thielenhaus 1-14 (1-6) 0-0 3, Dellett 1-7 0-0 2, Werth 2-6 0-0 4, (25) 2-2 0-1 4, Totals 15-57 (4-18) 0-3 34

St. John 13 16 — 52

La Crosse 4 4 — 27

ST. JOHN —Emmett Delp 3-8 (1-3) 6-6 13, Reyes 2-5 (0-1) 2-2 6, Ibarra 1-3 0-0 2, Vieux 2-4 (0-1) 1-2 5, Lozano 0-1 0-0 0, Easton Alpers (1-1) 0-0 3 

LA CROSSE —Lee Holopirek 2-9 (0-5) 0-0 4, Rush 0-5 (0-4) 0-0 0, Doornbos 0-2 0-0 0, Grumbein 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2, Castaneda 0-5 (0-2) 0-0 0,