Home losses in consecutive conference basketball contests over a four-day stretch snapped a six-game winning streak for the Bishop O’Connell Knights boys team.
O’Connell (13-5, 3-2) shot poorly in both outings as it lost to the Bishop McNamara Mustangs, 59-39, then to the Gonzaga Eagles, 56-47, Friday (Jan. 17) in high-school action.
Gonzaga (16-2, 5-0) is in first place in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. McNamara stands 5-9, 2-2.
The Knights shot just 28 percent from the floor against McNamara and 36 versus Gonzaga. O’Connell made only 3 of 20 three-pointers in the McNamara loss.
The Arlington squad entered those games ranked third in Virginia in the initial Division I private-school poll of the 2024-25 season.
In the most recent loss to Gonzaga, O’Connell led 34-24 at halftime, then was outscored 32-13 in the second half, scoring just two points in the third quarter.
Shane Lincoln was O’Connell’s leading scorer, with 16 points to go with six rebounds. Darius Bivins scored 11 and had four assists, and Aiden Caulker added 10 points and four steals.
Justin Edwards scored 10 to lead O’Connell against McNamara. Lincoln and Wyatt Norton scored six each; Bivins had four points and five assists; and Caulker had five points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
In its final game of the week, a non-district clash against Riverdale Baptist of Maryland at The St. James MLK Classic Basketball Showcase, O’Connell bounced back with a 63-41 win.
The game was played at The St. James facility in Springfield.
O’Connell led 15-10 at the end of the first quarter, 31-24 at halftime and was ahead the rest of the way.
Lincoln had 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Norton had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Liam Koelsch scored 11 with four rebounds, Makel Minor had five points and seven boards, Edwards scored six with five rebounds and Bivins had four points and three steals.
