The past three years in the Central Lakes Conference, the Cardinals (from Alexandria and Willmar) have finished the season perched atop the league standings — in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.
This year is setting in similar fashion with the redbirds taking roost ahead of the flock after dominating conference foes and setting up an unbeaten avian battle Tuesday night. But in an interest twist to the rivalry in the last two years, the home hasn't protected the nest when hosting the visitors.
Alexandria is hoping to extend the trend when heading south for a showdown at Willmar.
In its perfect start, No. 1-3A Alexandria (12-0, 6-0) has toppled opponents from across the classes, including No. 1-2A Sauk Centre (60-53 on Dec. 28) and No. 2-2A Roseau (82-64 a day later). In a 59-49 win on Dec. 1 against Class 3A's DeLaSalle, Ella Grove (11.9 ppg) scored a season-high 20 points.
Willmar (10-2, 7-0) took the conference title last season and if these Cardinals want to keep it, they'll likely need to sweep the regular season series with Alexandria. Willmar’s only losses were in nonconference matchups against No. 6-3A Waseca (43-37 on Dec. 15) and No. 5-2A Minnehaha Academy (61-55 on Dec. 26).
To avoid falling to another ranked opponent, the No. 8-3A Cardinals can look to Carly Wedel, who had an 18-point performance on Jan. 5 in a 67-37 throttling of Monticello, to help bolster the offense.