Benilde-St. Margaret’s at No. 9-3A Columbia Heights
7:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20
MN Basketball Hub Spotlight Game

The North Suburban Conference will disband after this season but, in its death throes, the circuit is putting up a good fight. Four teams are within a game and a half of the lead into the final week, led by Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Thursday’s opponent (Columbia Heights) is one of those chasing teams, just a game behind the Red Knights. And perhaps even more compelling, the Hylanders have already beaten them handily this winter, a 73-44 thumping back on Dec. 17. Zakaria Ali (6.4 ppg) scored 16 to lead Columbia Heights, while Ernest Dixon (9.8 ppg) and sophomore wing Jarret Baptiste (16.1 ppg) had 11 points each. But Benilde-St. Margaret’s is a different team having gone 2-1 since against the other contenders (Spring Lake Park and Totino-Grace). Senior guard Sam Lynch (10.6 ppg) is the top scorer for the Red Knights, although five other players average at least 7.7 ppg.