Minneota and Lac qui Parle Valley enter the week boasting a combined 25-0 record and, if both continue their hot streak into Thursday's game, this Class 1A, Section 3 semifinal rematch has all the makings of a must-watch contest. That's why it's our Top Game of the Week.
Minneota must defeat Pipestone on Monday and Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg on Tuesday to maintain a spotless record, something the team owning the No. 1 spot in the Class 1A rankings released by Minnesota Basketball News on Jan. 9 has had an easy time doing this season. The Vikings (10-0, 5-0) have won by an average of 42.9 points per game, with its most impressive run coming in a two-week span at the end of December and start of January, when the recorded three straight 60-point wins.
Abby Hennen led all scorers with 21 points in last season's section semifinal win. This year, Hennen, who put up 12 points in a 72-35 victory at Yellow Medicine East on Dec. 4, could be key in keeping Minneota perfect after Thursday.
In Lac qui Parle Valley's 72-57 loss to Minneota in last year's section tournament, Haley Wollschlager led the Eagles with 20 points. This season, the senior is averaging 13.0 points per game and joins with Lindsay Kranz (15.9 ppg) as the Eagles' scoring leaders.
The No. 9-1A Eagles had won 11 consecutive games before falling 55-51 at Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta on Jan. 12. The winning streak was build on a suffocating defense that's allowed just 38 ppg and has given up 30 points or less three times this season, including a season-low 26 points against Renville County West on Nov. 29.
Lac qui Parle Valley can't look too far ahead in the schedule. On Tuesday, it faces a Russell-Tyler-Ruthton team that has won its last four games.