The Four Most Interesting Teams of the Week: Dec. 17-22

Every week NHR will bring you one team from each class that has something to prove, something to bounce back from, or something to double down on. The most interesting teams of the week are here!

Class A: BOLD - We know there’s talent at almost every position for the Warriors of Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian District (fun fact, the D is not for Danube anymore!). Carter Henry wins athleticism up front, Gavin Vosika is a roving stat stuffer and the Sagedahl brothers can shoot and play too. They’ll take on another strong program in Melrose and then face Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (shoutout to the homeland!) on Thursday. BOLD is 5-0 and has won every game by at least 18 points, so a challenge will be posed by the Dutchmen on Tuesday for sure. Matchup to watch: Carter Henry vs. Reegan Nelson. Henry dominates outstate competition but Nelson was a producer in the AAU season so he’s seen his share of tough assignments. I expect a physical battle between these two, although BOLD should win the game outright.

Class AA: Spectrum - Don’t look now but the Sting are 4-0 and riding two 20-plus PPG scorers in Cole Elrod and Matt Kruse! Spectrum has built up to this season and is looking to splash in the historically competent section 6AA—they’ve already defeated three section opponents this season. They’ll take on Hope Academy and Caleb Hoilien tonight in what likely will be a barn-burner, then face Kimball at home on Thursday (I’ll likely be at that game). A couple more wins against teams with talent should definitely boost the Sting’s standing among Class AA. Matchup to watch: Matt Kruse vs. Caleb Hoilien. Hope’s star forward is a scorer at the best level and Matt Kruse will have a chance to equate himself and Spectrum against a very solid and reputable city private school. Should be a fun one tonight!

Class AAA: Benilde-St. Margaret’s - The Red Knights are 3-3 and have a ringer of a week. They travel to Wayzata on Tuesday and host DeLaSalle on Friday; that’ll be a heck of a test for Nick Peterson, Dylan Drees and company. I’m interested in how they respond to top ten caliber opponents. Led by Peterson (one of the most respected effort guys in the metro), BSM won’t go down easy. But it’s a tall task to face Trojans and Islanders in the same week. Matchup to watch: Nick Peterson vs. Camden Heide. This is what I’d expect to see on Tuesday, as Peterson’s ferocity could possibly slow down the explosiveness and length combo that the freshman Heide possesses. The rest of the matchups, we’ll see!

Class AAAA: Shakopee - The Sabers almost beat Chaska on Saturday and look to bounce back against conference for Prior Lake and then local rival Chanhassen. Can Shakopee’s junior talent keep up with the size that Prior Lake relies on? That game will be one to watch. I like the matchup with Chan as well because the Storm are playing good team ball and individual matchups could be very fun. Tough tests for the still-young Sabers. Matchup to watch: Charles Katona vs. Dawson Garcia. I think if anyone with a size disadvantage can stop Garcia, it’s Katona. At 6-foot-7 with similar perimeter skills, this could be one of the better one-on-one mini-games we see before Christmas. Whoever wins this one could absolutely be the deciding factor in the contest.