Spartans Boys Hoopsters Fall One Point Short of a Win—Again

There was a full slate of competition both in and out of conference play for teams from and the as the winter sports season rounded the mid-point of January.

Richfield Boys Basketball

In what is becoming an all-too familiar refrain, the was defeated by the narrowest of margins to close out their week.

The Spartans, who had built a three-game winning streak against teams from the Classic Suburban Conference (CSC), saw that run come to an end in a 74-73 defeat at circuit-leading Tartan on Jan. 20 to fall to 8-5 overall and 3-3 in the CSC.

Coming on the heels of a 72-63 home win over Mahtomedi three nights previous, the Tartan setback was the second one-point loss of the 2011-12 campaign for Richfield, a team that has lost its five games by a combined total of just 11 points.

Shawn Bear's 17.6 points-per-game scoring average continues to lead the Spartans, followed by Jared Noonan at 14.8 ppg and Dashawn Jones at 13.8 ppg.

Richfield plays only one game this week, traveling to Inver Grove Heights to take on on Friday night.

Richfield Girls Basketball

The , entering this week ranked third in Class AAA, with conference wins over Mahtomedi and Tartan to improve to 13-3 overall and 4-0 in the Classic Suburban.

Following a 70-50 road win at Mahtomedi on Jan. 17, the Spartans toppled Tartan 78-60 at home on Jan. 20 to remain tied atop the conference standings with Simley.

Richfield is scheduled to host Simley, ranked eighth in Class AAA, in a battle of Spartans at RHS at 7 p.m. Friday night. Prior to that game, Richfield heads to Mendota Heights to take on on Tuesday night.

continues to lead the Spartans with an average of 21.0 ppg, with Sierra Washington and Hannah Wise both logging 10.1 ppg.

Richfield Hockey

After returning to the .500 mark for the first time last week since Dec. 6, the hit a bump in the road in its past two games, falling to conference foes Simley and North St. Paul at .

The Spartans dropped a 4-2 decision to Simley on Jan. 19, then were thumped by the Polars, 11-2, to fall to 7-9-1 overall and 0-3 in the CSC.

Mick Dhein's 52 points on 20 goals and 32 assists top the club, followed by Tyler Martinez's 47 points on a team-best 27 goals to go with 20 assists; Sam Schrick has logged 36 points on 11 goals and 25 assists, with Jack Stellon's 18 points have all come on assists.

Richfield, in the midst of a five-game homestand, looks to right the ship against Tartan at 7:30 p.m. Thursday before hosting (No. 3, Class A) at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Holy Angels Boys Basketball

The followed a familiar pattern this past week, topping visiting Breck 75-42 on Jan. 16, losing 70-67 at Farmington on Jan. 17 and winning 56-47 at Shakopee on Jan. 20.

So far in January, the Stars have hopped between wins and losses in each of their games, with each of their past three losses immediately followed by a victory as the team carries a 7-5 overall record — 1-2 in the Missota Conference — into this week.

Danny Sullivan's 15.4 ppg average leads the squad, followed by Jordan Dembley's 14.2 ppg.

Holy Angels returns home to play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night, then heads to Chaska for a Friday night contest before returning home to play non-conference foe Duluth East at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. 

Holy Angels Girls Basketball

A pair of defeats last week brought the 's losing streak to five games after the Stars fell 60-51 to Farmington and 56-39 to Shakopee at home on Jan. 17 and 20, respectively.

The Stars enter this week with a 5-11 overall record and have yet to claim a Missota victory with an 0-5 slate in conference matchups.

Evan Wise leads the Stars with 10.8 ppg, followed by Kate Banovetz's 10.1 ppg average.

Holy Angels plays at Northfield on Tuesday night, before returning home to take on Chaska at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening.

Holy Angels Boys Hockey

The enters this week at 4-12-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the Missota after tying Red Wing 2-2 on Jan. 17 and losing 4-3 at New Prague on Jan. 20.

Mario Bianchi leads the team with 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points; Tony Haeg has 26 points, followed by Marshall Baines with 21 points and Frankie Mork with 20 points.

This week, the Stars play at Shakopee and at Missota-leading Chanhassen on Tuesday and Thursday nights, respectively.

Holy Angels Girls Hockey

Still searching for its first win of 2012, the dropped to 2-19 overall and 0-9 in the Missota with a 6-2 loss to Red Wing (No. 8, Class A) on Jan. 17 in its lone game of the week.

Amanda Navratil and Lauren Victor have each tallied four goals apiece on the season to tie for the team scoring lead, with Navratil also logging three assists to pace the club.

There are four regular-season games remaining on the Stars' dance card, all on the road. Holy Angels plays at New Prague Jan. 19, at Minnehaha Jan. 24, at Farmington Jan. 31 and at Shakopee Feb. 2.

Results from competitions involving Nordic skiiing, boys swimming/diving, gymnastics and wrestling were not made available. Scores and statistics may be emailed to tomcarothers@yahoo.com.