Huskies Boys Basketball, Girls Hockey Seek to Remain in Big Nine Title Race

With two games to go on the season, the Owatonna High School girls hockey team remains in the race for a Big Nine title. Just how close, however, is a little uncertain.

Big Nine hockey standings are determined on a point value basis. Games are worth two or four points depending on how many times the teams meet during the season. It is apparently a difficult statistic to track. The Huskies (13-1-2 Big Nine) are second in the standings, according to the Star Tribune's hockey hub website, but third on the big9.org website.

Northfield (10-3-1) is the clubhouse leader in each listing. They have finished their conference games and just have to wait and see how many teams pass them this week. Red Wing (9-0-2) is the only team that controls their own fate. The Wingers tied with Northfield (10-3-1) and John Marshall / Lourdes (9-3-1) for the title last season.

OHS plays at JM / Lourdes on Thursday evening at 5:30PM at Graham Arena with coverage on KRFO AM 1390 and the free RadioPup app. The Huskies beat the Rockets 4-1 earlier this season.

Conference standings are a bit more straightforward for basketball. John Marshall leads the boys Big Nine race at 11-0. Austin is 11-1. Owatonna is 10-2. The Huskies host No. 7AAA Austin on Thursday at 7:30PM in a makeup game. KRFO AM 1390 will have coverage. The Huskies have won nine straight. Austin's only loss was by 11 points to JM. The Packers have won five in a row.

OHS boys hockey hosts Rochester John Marshall at 7PM Thursday at Four Seasons with play-by-play on Kat Kountry 105FM. The Huskies are coming off a big 3-2 overtime win at Northfield on Tuesday, the Raiders' first loss of the conference schedule. Owatonna is still fighting for a home playoff seed. The Blue Line Club's portion of the 50/50 drawing at the upcoming home games will go to Ratzloff Strong Relief to help cover medical expenses for 2013 graduate Matt Ratzloff, who was recently diagnosed with a form of leukemia.

Owatonna gymnastics wraps up their regular season Thursday hosting Faribault at the gymnastics club. It is senior night and parents night. OHS boys swimming faces Mankato West at MSU-Mankato.

Local boys basketball Thursday features Triton at NRHEG and Medford at Kenyon-Wanamingo, which will be on air on KDHL AM 920. In girls basketball, NRHEG goes to Triton.

On the area wrestling mats, NRHEG faces Westfield at Blooming Prairie High School, Medford is at Maple River, Triton hosts Zumbrota-Mazeppa and former Owatonna coach Scot Davis takes his Bishop Heelan team (Sioux City, Iowa) to New Ulm for a quad.

The Steele County Blades junior hockey team begins a stretch of four games in four days Thursday night at River Falls. The Blades host Detroit on Friday night for Federated Insurance Stick it to Cancer night. The teams also play Saturday and Sunday afternoon in Owatonna.