Looking to Return to State, Benilde Boys Hoops Team Opens Season Tonight

Here's a quick look at the day in and sports, both home and away:

It's the home and season opener tonight for the Benilde boys basketball team, which will be playing host to Rosemount at 7:15pm. Last year, the Red Knights made it to the state tournament but fell to Grand Rapids in the quarterfinals. This year, with 12 returning players, the squad figures to have a good chance at going even farther. Look for the Red Knights to be paced by junior Isaiah Zierden, who averaged 16.1 points per game last season and has improved his game in the offseason, coach John Moore said. St. Louis Park Patch's Ben Kopnick will be at the game tonight for coverage.

The boys swimming season also kicks off tonight for both Benilde and St. Louis Park High School. Both teams will be competing in the North Suburban Conference Relays in Fridley, which start at 6pm.  The Orioles have been the class of the conference the last two years, nabbing two titles without dropping a meet. This year, however, the team will have a lot of new swimmers, so St. Louis Park will have to rebuild quickly.

Two other St. Louis Park teams are also in action tonight.

The gymnastics squad will be in Fridley to open its season at 6:30pm. And the boys hockey team is headed to the Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis for a 7pm showdown with Totino-Grace. Following a tough, to open the season at home, the Orioles dropped their first road game of 2010, 8-1 to Orono on Tuesday. The team will be looking to bring the intensity it showed at home to the Ice Garden tonight.