Prep Blog: Friday's Top Basketball Match-Ups
It's a big weekend for many high school basketball teams as conference races around the Twin Cities are heating up.
We've already had one of the best games of the week in boys basketball as Hopkins, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 4A, traveled to Minneapolis North, the No. 1-ranked team in Class A. The Polars went to-toe-to with the Royals, but Hopkins ultimately prevailed with a 98-96 victory. In a twist of irony, the son of a former North star led Hopkins to the win. Ishmael El Amin, the son of former North star Khalid El Amin, led Hopkins with 28 points in the game.
But now we turn our attention to some big games Friday night with conference implications across the Twin Cities both in boys and girls basketball. Here are some of the top match-ups.
Boys Basketball: Delano (14-3) at Orono (14-4)
It should be a great match-up and an even better atmosphere as a pair of top-10 teams meet for a showdown in the Wright County Conference Friday night. Orono, the No. 6-ranked team in Class 3A, hosts No. 5-ranked Delano. Both teams are one game behind New Prague in the league standings, and it's our featured game for WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally.
Orono will come into the match-up a hungry team, having lost on Tuesday to No. 10-ranked Waconia 71-65. That's the same Waconia program that knocked Orono out of the state tournament last year. The Spartans average about 63 points per game, and they're led by Alexander Kill's 15 points per game. Sam Sustacek als scores about 13 points per contest.
The Tigers are a little more offensively skilled, averaging nearly 76 points per game. They're led by Calvin Wilshart's 17.5 points per game and Matt Kreklow's 16.4 points. Delano has won four of its past five games, including a 40-point win over Holy Family earlier this week.
The two teams meet again in the regular season finale with potential conference and playoff implications at stake.
Boys Basketball: Chaska (13-4) at St. Louis Park (13-4)
There is a big game Friday night between the top two teams in the Metro West Conference as St. Louis Park hosts Chaska. The Hawks, who score about 71 points per game, have won four straight since a loss to Benilde-St. Margaret's. They're led by Myles Hanson, who scores nearly 23 points per game. The Orioles score nearly 80 points per game and have won four straight since a loss to Bloomington Jefferson. They're led by Ray Whitlock's 13 points per game.
Boys Basketball: Cretin-Derham Hall (13-3) at Woodbury (15-2)
Cretin-Derham Hall and Woodbury have quite the rival on the hardwood in the Suburban East Conference, and the league's top two teams meet in Woodbury Friday night. The Raiders are unbeaten in league play at 8-0, but are coming off an 86-56 loss to Eden Prairie on Tuesday. They're led by Daniel Oturu's 16.4 points per game. The Royals are a game behind at 8-1 in league play and have won 11 straight since the two teams last met on Dec. 8, which was a 69-67 loss for Woodbury. The Royals are led by Jeremiah Coddon's 17.8 points per game.
Girls Basketball: Hopkins (15-1) at Minnetonka (13-3)
Two of the top girls programs in Minnesota meet in Lake Conference action Friday night. Hopkins, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, travels to rival Minnetonka, which is ranked No. 7. The Royals come in having won 11 straight games since their only loss of the season to St. Michael-Albertville. They're led by Nia Hollie's 15.6 points per game. The Skippers have won 10 straight games since they lost to the Knights in early December. Minnetonka is led by Courtney Fredrickson's 16.1 points per game.
Tune into WCO-TV's High School Sports Rally at about 10:20 p.m. Friday as Mike Max, Frank Vascellaro and David McCoy will have all the action covered.