The Four Most Interesting Teams of the Week: Dec. 31-Jan. 5

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

Class A: Hayfield - Mason Tapp and Luke Dudycha lead the way for Hayfield's hot start. They take on Rushford-Peterson on Thursday and Triton on Friday. R-P is a crucial section 1 game that could swing each team between 2nd and 5th in the playoff seedings. Tapp is scoring over 20 a game and has 3 guys behind in double figures too. Can they run through a deep section to State? This will be a pivotal week to set the table for it. Matchup to watch: Mason Tapp vs Luke O'Hare. Tapp turned our heads at the Expo this fall and is tearing it up for Hayfield. He's a 6-4 wing with expansive ball skills and rebounding prowess. Luke O'Hare seems to be in the same mold: a 6-4 sophomore leading R-P in scoring at 14 a game. Could be a nice matchup there on Thursday.

Class AA: Breckenridge - The Cowboys have high aspirations after knocking previously undefeated Perham out of the playoffs last year. Thhey have two great tests this week playing Morris Area on Thursday and St. Cloud Cathedral on Saturday at the Crossover Classic in Perham. Will their guard play hold up against Cathedral's experienced backcourt? Both of these wins would be big statements. Matchup to watch: Noah Christensen vs Jackson Loge. Christensen is a future D1 big with a wide skillset and defensive dominance in the northern MN area. Jackson Loge is a talented player in his own right with a chance to show what he's capable of. The two big men will both make their marks on the game; which will be the deciding factor?

Class AAA: Totino-Grace - On the uptick this year are the Eagles, riding stellar play from rotation guys 1 through 7. Devin Burger is a sophomore stretch big with perimeter skills, Eric Krieger has been a high-scoring senior lead guard, Carter Weierke wins his battles on both ends. I like the way they're trending and Spring Lake Park on Friday will be one of their toughest opponents yet. Matchup to watch: Carter Weierke vs Blake Remme. Weierke recently got into the starting lineup and is flourishing, but not in the stat sheet. Almost all of his impact comes intangibly and his defensive discipline will be on full display against SLP and their best wing scorer Blake Remme. Consider me interested in this game.

Class AAAA: Wayzata - The Trojans have been very good this year; they're 7-2 and every time they've slipped, they bounce back convincingly rhe next time out. The post-New Year slate has a bevy of non-conference games to watch. Wayzata plays Bloomington Jefferson on Wednesday and they have a Saturday heavyweight matchup with Lakeville North. Can Beeninga and company separate themselves as the best of the next group of contenders in AAAA? The North game will tell us a lot. Matchup to watch: Jacob Beeninga vs Tommy Jensen. Fun little one-on-one here with one of the more physical guards around in Jensen having to contain the ticking offensive explosion that is Jacob Beeninga. Can Jensen hokd his own in the scoring column next to Beeninga, or will he have to lock down the Wayzata guard to prevent things from ballooning? That might be the game of the weekend.