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Flint Hill’s path to the private-school state tournament became more precarious Wednesday night, Jan. 29, when the Huskies suffered another narrow loss against a non-conference state opponent.

The boys basketball team fell 64-59 at home to St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, dropping its overall record to 10-9. Similar close defeats against Benedictine, Episcopal and Highland could weigh heavily on Flint Hill’s postseason chances.

The Huskies were tied for 11th in the latest Division I state poll. Only the top 12 teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the state tournament, leaving little room for error with several important opponents still on Flint Hill’s schedule.

St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, ranked fifth in the state poll with an 18-3 record, controlled the game from the start. The Saints opened a 10-0 advantage and carried a 36-23 lead out of a fast-paced first half.

Flint Hill slowed the tempo after halftime and repeatedly cut the deficit to four points during the fourth quarter. The Huskies could not complete the comeback, however, and never held a lead.

Shooting guard Jack Loyd paced Flint Hill with 19 points and made two three-pointers. Blake Fitzgerald provided 11 points and three steals off the bench, while Ty Harris finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Caleb West contributed four points, eight rebounds and five assists. Kendall Jones recorded five points and six rebounds, and reserve Dylan Fletcher connected on two three-pointers. Kobe Davis, another of the Huskies’ leading scorers, missed the game because of illness.

The Saints made 10 shots from three-point range. Devin Ainsworth led the team with 17 points and three three-pointers, while Julian Burgdolf scored 13 and hit twice from beyond the arc. Marcus Hancock made four three-pointers for all 12 of his points.

Senior center Riley Jacobs added 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Jacobs has committed to play Division I basketball at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The loss ended a two-game Flint Hill winning streak that included decisive Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference victories over Potomac School and St. James.

Against neighborhood rival Potomac School, Flint Hill earned a 63-46 home win and completed a sweep of the teams’ two regular-season meetings. Loyd’s free throw put the Huskies ahead for good, 27-26, after his earlier baseline three-pointer had tied the game at 25.

Fletcher scored 16 points against Potomac, followed by Harris with 12, Jones with 11 and Loyd with 10.

Flint Hill also defeated host St. James 67-42. Loyd led the Huskies with 24 points in that victory, while Fletcher scored 13 and Harris added 12.