Prep Blog: Timberwolves Shootout Highlights Weekend Match-Ups
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – It's January and it's bitterly cold, but things are just starting to heat up inside Minnesota high school gyms and hockey arenas.
Early January is one of the most entertaining times of the high school sports season. Across the state, most non-conference action has ended and we've entered the grind of conference play. It's as mental as it is physical. Even the highest-ranked teams in Minnesota can't mentally fall asleep on any given night, or they'll lose.
When league play starts, a majority of games are close and tend to come down to the wire. It's where a team's standout makes a play and leads their squad to a big victory. That can go a long way towards winning a conference title.
This weekend, there are plenty of great match-ups in hockey and basketball. One of the top events of the weekend is the Timberwolves Shootout, an all-day event at Target Center where some of Minnesota's top teams face talented squads from across the country. Here's a look at our top weekend match-ups.
Friday Girls Basketball: Edina (8-3) at Hopkins (11-1)
It doesn't get much better than two top-10 teams meeting in conference play, and that's exactly the case Friday night as No. 1 Hopkins hosts No. 10 Edina in Lake Conference action. It's our featured game for WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally.
The Royals are the state's best team for a reason: They're hard to beat. Hopkins has won seven straight games since their only loss of the season, in overtime to Eastview. The Royals avenged that loss with a 68-55 win over the Lightning on New Year's Eve. Friday night will be their first action since then, and it's always exciting to face a rival. Hopkins is averaging about 77 points per game, and it's an attack that's led by Ashley Bates and T.T. Starks, who both average more than 14 points per game. Nia Hollie adds more than 13 per game.
The Hornets had won five straight games, but have lost their last two games to Shakopee and Chanhassen by a combined seven points. Edina scores about 55 points per game and is led by Annika Jank's 19 points per game. Jill Morton adds about 16 points per contest for Edina. The Hornets will need a great defensive effort and slow the game down to have a chance against a deep and athletic Hopkins squad.
Friday Boys Hockey: Hermantown (12-2) at St. Cloud Cathedral (10-4)
Two of the top teams in Class A boys hockey square off Friday night as St. Cloud Cathedral hosts Hermantown. The Hawks got to the state title game last year before losing to East Grand Forks, and the Crusaders were a state semifinalist last year. Hermantown takes with it to St. Cloud the No. 1 ranking in Class A, and it's on a nine-game win streak since an early December loss to Hopkins. St. Cloud Cathedral is also on a roll, having won six straight since a Dec. 20 loss to Alexandria. These two teams are filled with talent in all areas, so it should be a great battle between rivals.
Friday Girls Basketball: Maple Grove (8-1) at Minnetonka (11-1)
If you're looking for a game between ranked teams Friday night in girls basketball, you want to head to the west Twin Cities metro. No. 3-ranked Minnetonka hosts No. 8-ranked Maple Grove. The Crimson have won two straight since a 1-point loss to Edina over the holidays. The Crimson are led by Mackenzie Barta's 14.8 points per game. The Skippers have won six straight games since their only loss of the season to a tough Champlin Park squad. Minnetonka is led by Courtney Frederickson's 16.6 points per game. It's a great match-up that should go down to the wire.
Saturday Boys Hockey: Hill-Murray (9-4) at Edina (12-1-2)
It's not a conference game, but it doesn't get much better in boys hockey than when Hill-Murray faces Edina. The Hornets are ranked No. 2 in Class AA, while the Pioneers are ranked No. 4. The two teams met on New Year's Eve, with Edina getting the 3-1 victory. The Pioneers have two victories since by a combined 11-2. Zach Mills leads Hill-Murray with 25 points, while Marko Reifenberger leads them with 14 goals. Edina is unbeaten in its last nine games after an early December loss to Lakeville North. The Hornets are led by Dylan Malmquist's 39 points. Matt Masterman leads the squad with 16 goals.
Saturday Boys Basketball: Target Center Hosts Timberwolves Shootout
Some of the best high school basketball in the state will be on display Saturday as Target Center serves as the host for the Timberwolves Shootout. The event features four of Minnesota's top teams against four talented teams from other states. There are many Division I recruits on display. The first game of the day, at 9:15 a.m., features No. 2-ranked Apple Valley against Omaha Central of Nebraska. The Eagles are led by Division I recruit Gary Trent Jr., who averages 21.1 points per game.
In the second game at about 11 a.m., Cretin-Derham Hall takes on North Scott of Iowa. The Raiders are led by Joe Rosga and Sam Neumann, who each average more than 20 points per game.
In the third game, No. 1-ranked in Class AAA DeLaSalle faces Morgan Park of Illinois. The Islanders are led by guard Jarvis Johnson, who will play for the Gophers next year, and guard Sacar Anim, another Division I recruit.
In the last game of the day, No.1-ranked and 12-0 Champlin Park faces Rice Lake of Wisconsin. The Rebels are led by JT Gibson's 19.3 points per game. Rice Lake features one of the top ranked seniors in the country in Henry Ellenson, who will play at Marquette next year.
Tune into WCCO-TV's High School Sports Rally at about 10:20 p.m. Friday as Mike Max and David McCoy will have all the action covered.
