Richfield shrugged off a sputtering start, perhaps to be expected considering the 10 a.m. start time, found its transition game late in the first half and pulled away to defeat Hill-Murray 54-35.

The Spartans (27-3) turned to their superstar, guard Jessica January, early and she responded, scoring eight-straight points to give Richfield a 10-2 lead. More importantly, it gave Richfield enough of a cushion to figure out how to handle the taller Pioneers.

Richfield’s trademark defense — pressuring the ball on the perimeter and over-playing the passing lanes — started to have its effect midway through the second half. The Spartans cranked up the transition game, outscoring the Pioneers 16-5 to turn a two-point advantage into a 30-17 halftime lead.

“We started to get uncomfortable at about the 12-minute mark of the first half. That’s what happens with 16-, 17-year-old kids,” Richfield coach Scott Stadem said. “But then we started defending like we were capable, pushed them out of their comfort zone and took them out of their game.”

It was more of the same after halftime. Richfield went on a 10-3 run to take a 40-20 lead and maintained a lead of at least 16 points for the rest of the game. January led Richfield with 19 points and five steals.

Kaitlin Langer score 12 points to pace Hill-Murray (19-11).

JIM PAULSEN