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Top games: Lakeville North and Rosemount square off in conference tilt

By Brendan O'Brien, SportsEngine, 12/19/22, 10:30AM CST

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Dec. 22: The early-season meeting between the Panthers and Irish could play a role in the South Suburban Conference crown.


Photo by SportsEngine

We task our reporters with identifying several intriguing games throughout the state to assemble our Top Games of the Week. The matchups are presented in no particular order, and when there are additional games we want to highlight, we’ll include them with brief notes.

Lakeville North vs. Rosemount

7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 22

In a challenging South Suburban Conference, this first matchup between Lakeville North and Rosemount could factor into who walks away with the conference crown at the end of the season.

Lakeville North (4-2) sustained two road losses to top 10 opponents in Chaska and Wayzata within the first week of play and will be tested again on the road against No. 7 Rosemount. But the Panthers look as if they might be coming into form with three consecutive wins.

Juniors Gabby Betton (13.8 points per game) and Trinity Wilson (11.3 ppg) are the only Panthers averaging double figures in points, so Lakeville North might need more offense if they are to pull off the upset and move towards the top in the conference standings.

After a Class 4A state tournament appearance, Rosemount has found its way back in the top 10 rankings with a 5-0 start. The Irish are playing well on both ends of the court, scoring at least 64 points in every game and allowing an average of about 45 points to opponents. Lakeville North, however, might be Rosemount’s toughest challenge yet in this young season, as Eagan is the only team with a winning record the Irish have faced. Look for juniors Avery Moeller (19.8 ppg) and Ava Thompson (14.4 ppg) to lead the scoring effort for the Irish at home.

Both teams finished in the top three in the conference standings a year ago. Rosemount won all three matchups between the two teams, including the Class 4A state consolation semifinal game. The two are set to meet again Jan. 31.


White Bear Lake vs. Centennial

7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20

Two teams that earned trips to the Class 4A state tournament square off in what could be a preview of what is to come in March. In mid-December, however, one team is trending up while the other is floating around the .500 mark.

Currently in the midst of a four-game winning streak, White Bear Lake (7-1) appears to be riding a wave of momentum after a third-place finish in last season’s state tournament. The Bears’ only blemish on their record came at the hands of No. 6-4A Wayzata in a 73-44 rout Dec. 3, but otherwise have won four games when scoring more than 60 points.

Coming off a season-high 21 points in a 76-69 conference win over Stillwater Dec. 16, junior Jordan Schmittdiel looks to follow that up with a strong performance against Centennial and help get the Bears to an eighth win.

Centennial (3-4), has made it to the state tournament three of the past four seasons but has not seen the same success as White Bear Lake early this season. The Cougars have been on the wrong end of multiple tight finishes this season, losing three of their four games by a total of six points.

Their wins, however, have been in dominant fashion, defeating opponents by an average of about 29 points. The offense is also averaging 64.1 points per game behind junior Marisa Frost (18.6 ppg). A non-conference win against a state tournament contender could get Centennial back on track.


Chisago Lakes vs. St. Paul Como Park

7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20

Two strong offensive players will square off and try to get their respective team back on track in one of the final games before the holiday break.

Chisago Lakes (2-2) is led by senior Emily Erickson who is scoring 25.2 points per game, including a 35-point performance in a 64-46 win over St. Agnes Dec. 6 and a 34-point game to beat Mora 63-22 Dec. 9. In the losses, however, Erickson has been held to 20 points or less, and the Wildcats have fallen by an average of 43 points. After its most recent loss – 52-24 to Bemidji Dec. 17 – Chisago Lakes could use a win against the No. 7 ranked team in Class 3A.

Despite losing its two top scorers from last season, St. Paul Como Park (3-1) is still in the top 10 in the Class 3A state rankings after a third place finish at the state tournament last year. Senior Shania Nichols VanNett (21 ppg) has emerged as the Cougars’ top offensive threat after averaging 7.4 points per game a season ago. Nichols VanNett’s season-high of 33 points came in a 60-44 win at Cretin-Derham Hall Dec. 3 to help the team win its third-straight game. The Cougars, however, will be looking to get back in the win column against Chisago Lakes after sustaining a 22-point loss at St. Louis Park Dec. 17.


Other games to keep an eye on

Mounds View vs. Mahtomedi, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20. This eastern metro matchup features balanced scoring on both ends of the court. At 5-1, Mounds View is off to its best six-game start since the 2015-16 season behind junior Bria Stenstrom (19 ppg) and seniors Jessica Eischens (12.4 ppg) and Yazzy Abed (11.8 ppg). Mahtomedi (3-2) also has its own three-headed scoring machine with junior Ella Kletti (16.8 ppg), senior Sonya Potthoff (15.7 ppg) and sophomore Ella Frazier (14 ppg).

Concordia Academy vs. Visitation, 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 22. Expect a defensive battle as an early holiday present when Concordia Academy (3-2) travels to Visitation (5-3), as both teams have allowed only one team to score 60 or more points so far this season. Visitation had their five-game winning streak snapped to Holy Angels to end last week, and sophomore Emma Korinek (18 ppg) will try to get the Concordia Academy offense going after a 45-30 loss to South St. Paul Dec. 16.


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