No. 3 Centennial at No. 2-3A Park Center
7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24
MN Girls’ Basketball Hub Spotlight Game 

McMorris, a Wisconsin recruit, will be the best player on the floor Friday night, as she was when she dumped 30 on the Cougars in the first meeting. In her first few varsity seasons, McMorris played more of an interior game with her 6-foot length, but has been transitioning into a more complete player from the perimeter. She can get to the rim at will, but her outside shooting is dangerous as well. Driven and competitive, she leads the Pirates.

But Centennial overcame McMorris’ exploits in the first game with great balance. Five Cougars scored in double-figures, led by Jaycie Gerding and Daizjah Morris with 18 points each. Jasmin Bretoi added 14, and Paige Comer and Destinee Morris each had 11.

Colleges have taken note, as four of the Cougars already have given verbal commitments to play at the next level. The Morris twins are signed by Army, while senior forward Jill Conrad is committed to Northern State and Bretoi to Wayne State. Cougars’ coach Greg Amundson is a legend in North Dakota, where he won nine state titles in 33 years and is inducted in the state’s coaching Hall of Fame. He’s brought a fun run-and-gun system to Centennial.

Contrary to popular belief, Park Center is not a one-player show. Junior guards McKenna Dubois and Hannah Schaub, sophomore Olivia Peterson and freshmen Danielle Schaub, Mikayla Hayes and Ann Simonet also are strong contributors. Hannah Schaub is the Pirates’ floor general and Dubois adds in a good outside shooting touch.