Wednesday Night Preview and Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuesday night's political usage of the gyms means big games on a Wednesday night and we are ready for it!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2AAA Richfield at 3AAA DeLaSalle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Player. [player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas']. Kamar was really quiet in the first game with three scores and he is coming off a big game in the Islander win over CDH this past weekend. Thomas is scoring 14 a game and he should make the difference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Destiny seems to be [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] and Islanders playing three games this season and the third game being the rubber match, so we say De wins 73-68.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5AAA Mahtomedi at 1AAAA Tartan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Player. [player_tooltip player_id='2140712' first='Willie' last='Roelofs']. Willie had a big month of January: he scored 40 against South St. Paul, 43 points against Two Rivers, and 34 points in the win over Hastings. He had 18 in the Zephyr loss three days before Christmas, will need more from him and [player_tooltip player_id='2822606' first='Noah' last='Carlson'] to win tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Tartan won 85-69 last night, we think they will be up for this game even more and win by 20 as they are itching for a big game. [player_tooltip player_id='2560499' first='Kevin' last='Wilson Jr.'] had 33 in the first game, he gets 28/29 tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4AAAA Prior Lake at Lakeville South</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Player. Nate Owata. The 6'6 senior has surprised many this season scoring 11 a game but he had just five against Prior Lake the first time while [player_tooltip player_id='2635710' first='Colten' last='Gunderson'] scored 21 points in the paint. Owata and [player_tooltip player_id='2400080' first='Nolan' last='Greene'] will need to combine for more than 15 this time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Prior Lake has won 13 straight games and the first time they played Lakeville South, the Lakers crushed South 79-40. The Lakers have been playing incredible basketball so they win by a dozen but remember, South always does the opposite of what I pick. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3AAAA Buffalo at Eden Prairie </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Player. [player_tooltip player_id='2119596' first='Cooper' last='Fahning']. Cooper has the size and agility up front Buffalo doesn't have and if EP can take advantage of that on both ends he could be a big difference maker. Averaging 16.3 points and ten boards a contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. This is interesting. EP has a great home crowd that will get on Buffalo, even if they are losing by 30! The Buffalo balance was too much for EP the first time around and I say its Buffalo 72 Eden Prairie 66.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Thomas Academy at South St. Paul</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Player. [player_tooltip player_id='2421555' first='Max' last='Hayes']. The St. Thomas Academy guard is 6'2 and the second leading scorer for STA at 13 points a game. Hayes scored 20 the first game but the balance was not there for the Cadets. STA will need another 20 to win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. SSP seems like the deeper and better team and they win at home by eight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Apple Valley at Farmington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Player. Tylan Ward of Apple Valley. Ward is an all around player for the Eagles and his team needs an all around game from him. He is a good defender, dishes out 4.7 assists a game, grabs 4.7 boards a game, averages over two steals, and is the fourth leading scorer for AV.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. The Eagles are on a five game winning streak climbing to 10-5. Meanwhile Farmington has lost three of their last five games plus they had to battle in January just to get some of the wins they had. But they are home, we say Eagles by a score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spring Lake Park at Mounds View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Player. [player_tooltip player_id='2140672' first='Nolan' last='Roach']. You might know Nolan as the state championship QB but the junior is also a wing that scored four times a game and gives [player_tooltip player_id='1560865' first='Nolan' last='Myren'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2126461' first='Cal' last='Spencer'] another option defenses have to pay attention to. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction. Both teams have had three somewhat recent losses and really need a win right now. I will say Panthers 65, MV 63.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->