Leaders in the Northwest Suburban Conference's North and West divisions clash Friday as Centennial takes on Park Center in an early — but albeit important — league matchup.
This game has a chance to be a shootout, too, as the Cougars (7-3, 2-0), who lead the North, average 65.3 points per game and have scored 81 points twice this season. In an 83-81 loss to Lakeville North on Dec. 6, Taylor McAulay scored a season-high 38 points, and a similar performance Friday could secure a victory over the Pirates, who co-lead the West division with Robbinsdale Armstrong.
The Pirates (8-2, 2-0) boast 73.7 ppg this season but surpassed that average by at least 20 points twice already: in a 99-95 victory over Prior Lake on Dec. 1 and in a 92-60 win at Anoka on Dec. 14.
Park Center's offense is powered by T’Naye Griffin and Adalia McKenzie, who have combined 40.1 ppg this year. The duo averaged 57.5 points in the Pirates' highest-scoring victories and another combined outing of epic proportions against the Cougars could be what Park Center needs to remain undefeated in conference play.