Elk River and Maple Grove seem to be headed in opposite directions.

The Elks (7-1) are on a seven-game winning streak that has made their loss to Rochester John Marshall in the season opener a distant memory. Elk River has ascended to the No. 6 slot in the Class 4A rankings provided by Minnesota Basketball News.

Abi Scheid is a big reason why the Elks are playings so well. The 6-foot-2 junior center is the team's leading scorer at 18.6 points per game and scored her 1,000th career point in a 56-53 overtime victory at Champlin Park on Dec. 19. 

Maple Grove is ranked No. 7-4A but could slide after recording back-to-back losses last week. The Crimson have dropped three of their last five games and are 8-3 overall.

But all is not bleak in Maple Grove. The Crimson have the talent to bounce back, and what better way to do so than to snap the winning streak of a longtime rival.

The Crimson feature a balanced offensive attack that includes seven who have finished at least one game with 10 or more points. 

While the importance of the game between Elk River and Maple Grove has waned since the Northwest Suburban Conference split into two divisions this season (with the Elks in the West and the Crimson in the North), the intensity almost certainly will remain - especially considering what a victory in our Top Game of the Week means.

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