Minnetonka at Hopkins
7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26

Division I-caliber talent will be on display when Minnetonka and Hopkins clash for the second time this season on Friday.

The No. 5-4A Skippers (20-3, 6-0) feature two seniors committed to play across state lines next season. Wisconsin commit Courtney Fredrickson leads the team in scoring with 14.7 points per game, and UW-Milwaukee commit Lizzie Odegard is a strong presence in the lane, averaging 12.4 ppg. 

Minnetonka has quite the supporting cast with senior point guard and Lehigh commit Hannah Hedstrom (8.4 ppg) running the offense and sophomore guard Chrissy Carr (8.6 ppg), who is considered a top-5 prospect in the 2018 class.

Hopkins has won seven straight games since the 67-59 loss to the rival Skippers on Jan. 22, and similar to their Lake Conference foe, the No. 1-4A Royals (22-2, 5-1) are anchored by a veteran core and a top underclassman.

Michigan State commit Nia Hollie (15.7 ppg) and Hampton commit Ashley Bates (13.2 ppg) lead a Hopkins' offense averaging 73.7 ppg.

The Royals are a deep team, with nine players scoring five points or more each game. However, one of the biggest offensive contributors is an eighth-grader who comes off the bench.

Paige Bueckers averages 9.5 ppg and is already considered a top-5 prospect in the class of 2020. Hopkins coach Brian Cosgriff said earlier this year she could "be in that realm of great ones" to play girls' hoops in Minnesota.

Barring an upset Tuesday night in either Minnetonka's matchup with Edina or Hopkins' game with Wayzata, the Skippers will hold a one-game lead in the league standings over the Royals entering Friday's rematch.

Should Hopkins defeat Minnetonka, it will earn a share of the Lake title, which also occurred two years ago when both teams finished 7-1 in league play. If the Skippers can grab a road victory, they'll win conference outright.