Hopkins vs. Becker

1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 6

Editor's note: The Hopkins versus Becker game for March 6 was canceled on March 4. The teams are scheduled to play at Becker on March 12 to end the regular season.

The two longest winning streaks in Minnesota girls' high school basketball are likely to be at stake Saturday afternoon when Hopkins (11-0) visits Becker (12-0) in a battle of top-ranked and likely unbeaten dynasties, assuming the Royals and Bulldogs win their combined four matchups between today and Saturday.

Hopkins, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News from Feb. 24, comes into the week with the state's longest winning streak at 73 games and counting. The Royals last lost in the Class 4A state championship game — a 68-63 defeat to Eastview on March 17, 2018 — nearly three full years ago.

Becker enters the week with a 30-game winning streak in tow, last losing 78-68 to Hutchinson in the Breakdown's Granite City Classic on Dec. 27, 2019. Hopkins also defeated Becker 77-39 a month earlier at the Breakdown's Tip Off Classic in the Lindbergh Center at Hopkins.

But while these teams have most of their players back from the 2019-20 season, there are two key differences, both on the Royals' side. Gatorade National Player of the Year and Minnesota Miss Basketball winner Paige Bueckers graduated and longtime coach Brian Cosgriff retired in the offseason.

Is that enough for No. 1-3A Becker to close the 38-point gap from a Hopkins victory? 

The Royals still have some of the best young players in the state, led by junior center Maya Nnaji (20.1 points per game) and junior point guard Amaya Battle (14.2 ppg). Sophomores Taylor Woodson (17.7 ppg) and Nu Nu Agara (10 ppg), and freshman Liv McGill (13.3 ppg) round out the Royals' five double-digit scorers. All but McGill, who transferred from Park Center this past offseason, played in the victory over Becker last season.

Becker has more senior leadership with point guard Julia Bengtson (14.9 ppg), Megan Gamble (13.1 ppg) and Courtney Nuest (9.4 ppg). Junior Adeline Kent (13.4 ppg) and sophomore Maren Westin (11.7 ppg) also average in double figures for coach Dan Baird.

The Bulldogs don't necessarily have the size to counter Nnaji and Woodson inside, but they will play an uptempo, pressing game that Hopkins also favors. Expect plenty of points.