Falling by 16 points in the first meeting with fifth-ranked Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity Dec. 11, Southwest Christian held the visiting Bulldogs well below its season scoring average, falling 54-46 on Feb. 1.

LP/HT, 20-1 overall, averages more than 70 points per game, having netted 76 in the first contest with the Stars.

Southwest Christian trailed by just three points at 21-18 at halftime.

Four of five Bulldog starters were in double figures led by Hope Feltmann with 19 points.

Elizabeth Schwarz scored a team-high 14 points for the Stars. Guards Sydney Beard and Grace Schmidt added nine and eight points, respectively.

Southwest Christian (10-10) is 5-4 in the MCAA Conference, hosting New Life Academy in the league finale at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The Stars first are at CHOF at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Salvation Army gym near downtown St. Paul.

BOYS BASKETBALL: SW Christian 67, Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity 46

The stage is set for the second meeting with New Life Academy.

Southwest Christian, 9-2 in the MCAA Conference following Monday’s 67-46 road win at Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity, trails the Eagles by one game with two to play.

The two South Division leaders face off in the final game of a girl/boy doubleheader around 8 p.m. on Friday in Chaska.

New Life Academy won the first meeting 73-57 on Jan. 16 in Woodbury.

Against LP/HT, leading 33-25 at halftime, the Stars outscored the hosts 34-21 in the second half.

Southwest Christian, which attempted 32 3-point shots, got a double-double from Kyle Meinke with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Jack Jenson also added a game-high 24 points with nine steals and six steals.

Trey Sandness finished with six steals as well to go with 17 points for the Stars.

“Did not play our best game but made the plays when we needed to against a much improved LPHT squad,” Kit Avery, coach of Southwest Christian said on Twitter. “Overall a team win with lots of guys contributing despite poor shooting. Need three solid practices before Friday night’s homecoming game vs NLA.”