Tuesday Night Preview & Predictions: Royal/Skipper Rivalry!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not sure how many have noticed by Minnetonka has won nine games in a row and they are back in the top ten. What's next? Bryce Tesdahl is having another noteworthy season as coach but this week..... its Hopkins and then Wayzata. The Tonka vs Hopkins rivalry looks to have some extra flavor this evening. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3AAAA Hopkins at 7AAAA Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1567964' first='Isa' last='El-Amin']. [player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] was the first half of the season player of the year but right now [player_tooltip player_id='1567964' first='Isa' last='El-Amin'] is making a push to be January's best player, and maybe the second half player of the year. El-Amin had a combined 81 points in the three wins last week over Edina, Eden Prairie and Breck. Will they defend each other? I don't know but they will be the headliners and they are the lead guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574212' first='Anthony' last='Smith'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2436860' first='Jacob' last='Hudson']. Hudson was a Hopkins player last year, but he barely played and likely didn't have a role for them this year. He's went over to Tonka and has had a nice season as a defender, handler, and scorer of nine points a game. Smith? He's a true Mr. Basketball top ten candidate at 25 points a game with a burst and touch that rank with the best. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davieon Hart vs [player_tooltip player_id='1574218' first='Duke' last='Richardson']. The ex-factor wing scorers will be very important this evening. Both are wing scorers with Richardson being a shooter that will slash some, and Hart being a high flying above the rim player that scored 13 or 14 a night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1595734' first='JJ' last='Semanko'] vs Caleb Francois. Semanko is considered one of the better shooters in the state but he's been scoring near the rim as well while Francois has been one of the bigger surprises in the junior class this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2420169' first='Ahmed' last='Nur'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2760056' first='Malachi' last='Boadi']. Very different frontcourt players, Boadi is a smart, physical body at about 6'3 while Nur is a 6'9 long and agile scorer with a touch and both score about a dozen points a night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. This is a real test for Tonka and while they have been far better than expected, I am not sure they have quite the depth that Hopkins does so Hopkins by nine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6AAAA Prior Lake at 5AAAA Apple Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2109916' first='Cade' last='Wozney'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2271330' first='Trey' last='Parker']. Wozney has been a steady playmaking threat for Prior Lake in what has been a great season while Parker has been scoring 20 a game and is one of the biggest surprise names of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1579916' first='Brayden' last='Thompson'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2760107' first='Justin' last='Cowan']. Thompson is a shooter averaging in double figures while Cowan looks to be more of a slasher scoring 15 a game. Cowan had a tough foul on a hard attack to the rim over the weekend and missed part of the game, they will need him tonight so hopefully he's healthy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1434127' first='Norbu' last='Jenpa'] vs Camare Young. This is a match-up that is near must win territory. They are 6'3/6'4 forwards with great feels for the game as they have strong frames that score around the basket but skills to score in a lot of ways. Both are having all state level seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2635710' first='Colten' last='Gunderson'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2460586' first='Ryan' last='Christiansen']. Apple Valley is not a tall team while Prior Lake has about three or four players at about 6'7 that are versatile players. Gunderson is the highest scoring of the group at eight a game. Christiansen had 13 rounds over the weekend against Washburn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Apple Valley won the first one by three, I feel like these are even teams that will likely split but I think Apple Valley will win as I don't believe the Lakers have the bodies to deal with the Eagle athletic ability at guard and wing. AV by four. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Springfield at 4A Cedar Mountain</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blake Steffl vs Isaac Fredin. These are the under six foot guards for each team that score in double figures, Steffl is the main backcourt option for Cedar Mountain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson Schiller vs [player_tooltip player_id='2575629' first='Brayden' last='Sturm']. Schille had 13 points and five rebounds in the last game while Sturm was limited to 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2447210' first='Blake' last='Schueller'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2399032' first='Bryan' last='Buerkle']. Schueller led the Cougars in the win with 26 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks getting the best of Springfield but Buerkle is just coming off of a 21 point, 11 rebound game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Springfield will get better games from Sturm and Buerkle tonight, they win by a score. I have been ready to put Springfield in the top ten of Class A for weeks but nobody in Class A is really losing to open a spot, but maybe if they win tonight.....</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A Nevis at Pequot Lakes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2103319' first='Alex' last='Lester'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2109875' first='Harrison' last='Kennen']. The size in the middle are the best players for each team. Lester is bigger but both produce regularly with back to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2127213' first='Tollef' last='Birkeland'] vs Isaac Bessler. These are a couple new varsity players that have stepped forward. Tollef is a sophomore 6'1 guard that is scoring consistently for PL while Bessler has been a very surprising senior that went from 9th man to consistent scoring option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. PL by five tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mound-Westonka at 9AAA Richfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1585944' first='Max' last='Kraay'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1574223' first='CJ' last='Armstrong']. Two of the betters seniors, both were on the watch list for Mr. Basketball, Kraay is 20+ a night, CJ is 30+ a night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Whitehawks get a win after some recent losses, by three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->