(UPDATED) A Busy Week Off for Simley Athletes

Sure, Inver Grove Heights public schools have been closed for winter break this week. But, that doesn’t mean student-athletes haven’t been busy.

Here is a roundup of Simley High’s holiday-week athletic results, as well as upcoming games and meets.

GIRLS BASKETBALL (UPDATED)

The undefeated Simley girls basketball team were scheduled to host Pine Island in its holiday tournament Thursday night.

The Spartans improved their overall record to 9-0 on Wednesday with a 44-29 victory over Holy Angels. Leading by just two at halftime, 18-16, they doubled Holy Angels in the scoring column in the second half, 26-13.

Alexis Boyd-Lockett led Simley in scoring with 11 points.

On Tuesday night, the Spartans remained undefeated with a 72-40 victory over St. Louis Park. After a tight first half in which they headed into the locker room with a 29-25 victory, the Spartans outscored the visitors 43-15 in the second half.

Five Simley players scored in double figures against St. Louis Park, with Shauna Horsch leading the way with 17 points. Kylie Brown had 16, followed by Abby Kain and Aejah Lockett, with 12 apiece, and Boyd-Lockett, with 11.

Following the tournament, Simley will be off until Jan. 3, when it hosts North St. Paul.

BOYS HOCKEY (UPDATED)

The Simley boys hockey team entered last night’s game against holiday tournament host Waseca with a six-game winning streak and a 8-2 record.

The Spartans improved on their winning streak with a 2-1 overtime victory over Minnehaha Academy Wednesday in Waseca. Will Knopik scored his 12th goal of the season at the 1:12 mark in overtime to lift his team to the win.

Simley trailed 1-0 until the 11-minute mark in the second period, when Ben Rauschnot scored on an assist from Knopik.

On Tuesday, Simley netted a 9-3 win over Austin. Leading the charge was Brandon Reitberger, with four goals and an assist. He scored a pair of goals in the first period, as Simley darted out to a 5-0 load. His first of two goals in the second upped the lead to 6-0, before Austin scored.

Knopik had two goals against Austin, with Rauschnot, Ben Johnson and Nick McCoy adding a goal apiece.

BOYS BASKETBALL (UPDATED)

The Simley boys basketball team returned to the win column Thursday with a 92-31 victory over the International School of Minnesota at the Trinity School holiday tournament in Eagan.

The Spartans, 4-5 overall, dropped a pair of games in the tournament—80-66 to FAIR on Tuesday and 66-54 to Minnehaha Academy on Wednesday—before Thursday’s victory.

In Thursday’s game, Andrew Kropp led five Simley scorers in double figures with 23 points. He was followed by Verneal Baxter with 19 points, Aaron Gartner with 15, Dillon Kaup with 12 and Conner Wells with 10.

The Spartans now are off until Jan. 3, when they visit North St. Paul.

WRESTLING

The Simley wrestling team will compete in the Clash 10 national high school tournament Friday and Saturday in Rochester.

Clash 10 is recognized as one of the top tournaments in the nation. This year, several of the teams ranked in the Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40 poll will be taking part, including Simley, which is ranked sixth, and Apple Valley, the seventh-ranked team.

The Spartans enter the event with an 8-0 dual match record and a second-place finish in the 34-team Minnesota Christmas Tournament Dec. 16-17.

GIRLS HOCKEY

Sydney Knutson’s second goal of the third period was the difference as the Simley girls hockey team nipped host Cambridge-Isanti, 3-2, Tuesday night.

After a scoreless first period, each team tallied a goal apiece in the second. Knutson’s goals—netted 39 seconds apart—put the Spartans on top for good, 3-1.

Laken Muller had Simley’s second-period goal and assisted on both of Knutson’s goals.

Simley, 7-5-2 overall and winner of five of its last six games, will host Minneapolis Jan. 3.

BOYS SWIMMING

The Spartans will return to the pool for a home meet with Tartan Jan. 5.

DANCE TEAM

The Simley dance team will be in action next in a home competition Jan. 14.