SLP boys reside atop conference standings
Another team effort elevated St. Louis Park to first place in the North Suburban Conference boys basketball title chase.
The Orioles improved their overall record to 11-3 with a 78-64 victory over Spring Lake Park Jan. 18 at home. St. Louis Park is first in the conference with a 5-0 record.
D.J. Pollard topped the Oriole scoring chart with 20 points. Jeffrey Bonds scored 16 points and Kashif Hayes was also in double figures with 13 points.
Marshall Cullen contributed eight points. Zack Gilbert-Burke and Charlie Koch scored seven points apiece.
“Hayes picked up his fourth foul with only one minute gone in the first quarter,” said St. Louis Park head coach Dave Breitenbucher. “So, he sat on the bench for 12 minutes before we got him back into the game.
“Andrew Johnson and Koch stepped up and filled in well when Hayes got into foul trouble. And we handled Spring Lake Park’s press well.”
St. Louis Park will attempt to extend its winning ways against St. Francis at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at home. The Orioles travel to Totino-Grace for a 7:15 p.m. game Tuesday, Jan. 29.
Girls are making progress
It has been an emotional couple of weeks for the St. Louis Park girls basketball team as it mourns the passing away of ninth-grader Carly Christenson, who died recently from flu complications. Christenson was a member of the Orioles’ sophomore basketball squad.
But Oriole head coach Tim Sension has seen improvement from his players despite having to endure tough times.
“It has been a long couple of weeks emotionally for our team,” said Sension. “But the girls are hanging in there.
“They keep making improvement even though that progress is not being shown on the scoreboard. We have a young team that still has half the season left and many winnable games.”
St. Paul Johnson defeated St. Louis Park 59-41 Jan. 15. Oriole leading scorers were Lauren Resnick (9), Katelyn Ederer (7), Amy Schulz (7) and Abigail Olson (6).
Spring Lake Park beat the Orioles 63-28 Jan. 18. Ederer was Park’s top scorer with nine points. Mara Henderson contributed six points.
St. Louis Park will journey to St. Francis for a 7:15 p.m. game Friday, Jan. 25. The Orioles return home to play Totino-Grace at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29.
