Minnetonka coach Leah Dasovich was worried about how her team would perform against Eden Prairie (4-2), as the Skippers (5-1) were coming off a 63-62 loss to Hopkins, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, three days prior. 

“I was a little concerned about our ability to turn around after Tuesday night’s game. It was a big game, and an emotional game for us,” Dasovich said, adding No. 9-4A Eden Prairie has skill on the defensive end. 

The No. 7-4A Skippers rallied, however, and looked like a whole new team in the second half, putting together a 12-0 run early to catapult into the lead. 

“The start to the second half was probably the best start we’ve had all year,” Dasovich said, adding on to her team’s effort on managing runs. 

Key to the turnaround was 5-foot-7 Lockett, who didn’t score her first bucket until halfway through the first half. She caught fire after halftime from every part of the floor. 

“She elevates everybody else around her,” Dasovich said. 

The energy and success from the court ignited the Skippers throughout the second half, and in the final minute the Skippers sealed the win from the free-throw line. 

Lockett finished with a game-high 24 points, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, but more importantly, she helped her new team bounce back after a tough loss earlier in the week. 

“I’m playing in the Lake Conference now,” said Lockett, who averaged 15.2 points per game with the Islanders a year ago. “It’s one of the best conferences in Minnesota, and having the record that we have, it’s been a really good start to the season.” 

Lockett said that the team knew she was transferring well before the season started, which allowed the squad to come together and gameplan for this season. 

“She’s a great add-on,” Ware said. “Her bringing up the ball on offense, bringing up the tempo, she’s a great player all around.” 

Despite new scenery, Lockett still has plenty of goals this season, and parts of her game she wants to work on. 

“Working on all aspects of the game, especially the pick and roll,” Lockett said, adding the Lake is full of big players, so learning the defense is key. 

“Also on and off the floor, being a leader,” she said. “Even though I’m at a new school, I have leadership skills from going to past state tournaments, so incorporating that here really helps.” 

Lockett wasn’t the only star of the night, with Ware scoring 16 points to pass the 1,000-point threshold for her prep career. 

“The celebration they had for me was awesome,” Ware said.

There was a lot to celebrate Friday for the Skippers, who were busy trying to stop Eagles’ Nia Holloway. The junior forward tallied 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Sophomore Molly Lenz totaled a team-high 12 points for Eden Prairie. 

“It’s exhausting,” Dasovich said. “The emotional highs and lows of this week have been something else, but this is real-deal, big-girl basketball.”