Sparta girls host Holmen in Mississippi Valley Conference basketball opener

After a week-long hiatus between games, the Sparta girls’ basketball team is back in action with the start of Mississippi Valley Conference play.

The Spartans (3-2), who are coming off a 39-33 win over Baraboo in their latest game, will host Holmen (1-4) in their conference opener Tuesday, December 7 at 7:15 p.m. in Sparta.

The Vikings have dropped four out of their first five games this season as they head into MVC play.

Holmen is coming off a pandemic-plagued 2020-21 season that saw the Vikings only play 13 totals games and finish with a 4-9 overall record.

They wound up only playing the Spartans once in conference play last season, with Sparta winning 41-30 at home.

Holmen lost two of its top three scorers from the 2020-21 squad to graduation in Sydney Jahr (12.3 points per game) and Haley Valiska (9.6 ppg).

The Vikings are led by a trio of scorers so far this year: Kelsi Reibel (8.4 ppg), Marissa Baker (7.8 ppg) and Danika Rebhahn (7.6 ppg).

Holmen picked up a 52-47 win over Chippewa Falls in its season opener but has lost to Eau Claire Memorial, West Salem, Eau Claire North and D.C. Everest since.