Waterville-Elysian-Morristown has played superb defending, holding opponents to just 37 points per game this season, helping vault the Buccaneers (18-2, 10-1) to the top of the Gopher Conference standings.
Coming off its first loss to a Gopher opponent this season — a 44-36 defeat to Hayfield on Jan. 31 — No. 4-1A Waterville-Elysian-Morristown will look to bounce back in Friday's tilt with Medford.
Brielle Bartelt (15.9 ppg) and Toryn Richards (13.4 ppg) have been offensive leaders for the Buccaneers.
While Medford isn't in the state's top-10 rankings among Class 1A teams, it's no treat facing the Tigers.
Medford (16-3, 9-2) is on a six-game winning streak, and its three losses have come against state-ranked teams. When the Tigers faced the Buccaneers on Dec. 20, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown needed overtime to pull out a 59-58 victory.
Tigers co-captain Emma Kniefel can help put her team over the edge. She recorded 24 points in a 67-58 win at Randolph on Jan. 23.