While league play is just heating up for many teams across the state, the Big 9 Conference schedule is already in full swing, and all of the teams have already played between eight and 10 games.
Northfield and Red Wing enter the week at No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference standings, respectively.
Both teams still have plenty of games remaining against Big 9 opponents. The league has 12 teams and uses a round-robin format, with each team playing two games against its fellow competitors for a total of 22 games -- that means teams are not even half way through the conference season.
With that said, the race for the conference championship feels like it could be over if the Raiders defeat the Wingers on Thursday night in our Top Game of the Week.
Northfield (11-2, 10-0), ranked No. 3 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, begins the week as the only undefeated team in league play. The Raiders have dominated in all but three conference matchups this season, eking out victories at Red Wing (46-45 on Nov. 30), at Faribault (32-29 on Dec. 8) and against Mankato West (66-62 on Dec. 19).
Grace Touchette and Rachel Kelly have shouldered the scoring load for the Raiders. Touchette boasts a team-best 12.2 points per game, and the senior guard finished with a team-high 11 in the first game against the Wingers. She also had 21 against Mankato West and scored a season-high 24 in a 62-42 victory over Owatonna on Dec. 12.
After an up-and-down start to the season, Kelly has found her groove and is second on the team at 10.8 ppg. The junior center has scored in double figures in the last four games, including a season-high 20 in a 67-55 victory at Prior Lake. She also had 19 against the Scarlets.
Red Wing's only loss was to Northfield, leaving the No. 4-3A Wingers (10-1, 7-1) only a game and a half behind in the standings. And they have plenty of momentum, heading into the week on an eight-game winning streak -- one in which they've defeated opponents by an eye-popping average of 24.3 points per game.
Red Wing has talent across the roster with players who can score at every position. Senior guard Tayzha Buck had 27 points in a 68-43 victory over Austin, while sophomore guard Kyli Nelson finished with 21 to help lead the Wingers past Rochester John Marshall 80-55 on Dec. 12. The pair combined for 17 points against Northfield earlier this season. Junior guard Lindsay Reps scored a team-high 13 in that loss, and also had 18 in an 85-35 victory over Mankato East on Nov. 28.