This mid-February marquee matchup features teams with a combined record of 34-6 entering this week and could provide a sneak peak at what's to come.
Eden Prairie competes in a talent-filled Lake Conference, where losses to No. 1-4A Hopkins (Jan. 15 and Feb. 8) and No. 2-4A Wayzata (63-45 on Jan. 11) have the No. 8-4A Eagles sitting on a sub-.500 league record. It's been a different story against nonconference opponents for Eden Prairie (16-4, 2-3), with only a 61-53 decision to Lakeville South on Dec. 6 in the loss column. A win against Stillwater would add another feather to the cap of an Eagles team looking to take momentum in the section playoffs, where the competition is likely to rise the deeper a squad goes.
And against the Ponies, Eden Prairie will be looking for a standout performance from Nneka Obiazor, who leads the Eagles in points (18.5) and rebounds (10.0) per game.
Stillwater is three league victories away from finishing undefeated in the Suburban East Conference, and the team's two losses are to Lake Conference opponents: Hopkins (84-62 on Nov. 24) and Wayzata (78-76 on Dec. 17). Since losing to the Trojans, the No. 3-4A Ponies (18-2, 13-0) have won 13 straight games — by an eye-popping average margin of 27.5 points.
Stillwater markswoman Sara Scalia, a Minnesota commit scoring 22.6 points per game, posted a season-high 30 points in a victory over East Ridge (75-26 on Jan. 4) and matched the mark in a win over Cretin-Derham Hall (72-63 on Jan. 15).
Scalia has made 75 three-pointers this season and forms a dangerous one-two punch with teammate Alexis Pratt (16.4 ppg). The sophomore guard is also potent from beyond the arc with 31 three-pointers.