This is one of the most intriguing matchups of this year’s Tip Off Classic, if only because the teams are so different and would not otherwise ever get the chance to play each other. Osseo is a metro Class AAAA team with lots of big time athletes, while Sartell-St. Stephen is an outstate school with more fundamental-type players. Both teams enter this game as top-10 teams in the Breakdown polls in their respective classes.

Sartell-St. Stephen comes into this game as the underdog, much like Caledonia did when it faced Osseo in last year’s Tip Off Classic. The Sabres hope that the outcome is different for the out-state school this year. They are led by Haley Guetter, who averaged 18 points per game last season and Abby Whitney, who stands at 6-foot-5. This pair of seniors are hoping for a big run to the state tournament to close out their careers.

Osseo has more guards than they know what to do with, highlighted by Mikayla Bailey, who has signed a National Letter of Intent to play next year at the University of Minnesota. However, it doesn’t end there, as two other D1 prospects share this backcourt in Phyllis Webb and Janay Morton. They are also on the receiving end of a transfer this year, with Olivia Antilla coming in from Benilde-St. Margaret’s. If this team can gel properly, they could challenge Hopkins for the Class AAAA state championship.

Haley Guetter, Sartell-St. Stephen vs.
Mikayla Bailey, Osseo
It is unlikely that Guetter will run into many defenders throughout her season that are as good as Bailey, so this battle should make the rest of her season seem easy. Bailey is known for her tough-nosed defense, but also proved this summer that she is no slouch on offense, showing outstanding three-point shooting ability.

Why Sartell-St. Stephen will win:

• They control the tempo and keep this more of a half-court game, which will limit the effect of Osseo’s pressure and keep them from getting easy baskets in transition.
• Osseo will have no answer for Whitney down low, and her 6’5 presence will control the paint on both ends of the floor.

Why Osseo will win:

• Their team will gel well early, share the ball well; and Webb, Morton, Bailey and Antilla will all finish in double figures.
• They are able to pressure Sartell into turnovers that result in easy transition baskets.

Our prediction: Osseo