If the Breakdown Sports Tip Off Classic was college football, this would be the Rose Bowl. It’s the “granddaddy of them all”, the one that everyone has been talking about since the schedules came out, and the game is loaded -- and I mean LOADED -- with college prospects. High school basketball fans are blessed this season, getting to see two games featuring the top 3 teams in the state within the first two weeks of the season (as North also plays Eden Prairie next Friday).

What’s on the line at the Tip Off Classic? Well, besides bragging rights, we are talking about the No. 1 ranking in the state, the role as state tournament favorite and maybe the  No. 1 seed and Lakeville North’s 35-game win streak. The two teams had two intense battles this fall at two different events, with a winter like intensity in both. Saturday night will undoubtedly have a state championship game feel.

Lakeville North is the reigning Class AAAA state champions and is currently on a 35-game winning streak. The Panthers are 3-0 already this year, including a demolishing of Class AAA No. 2 DeLaSalle Thursay night. If they can get by Hopkins on Saturday and Eden Prairie next Friday, it’s reasonable to believe that they could run the table again this season. North is led by Rachel Banham and Apiew Ojulu, both of whom will be playing high D1 basketball next year.

Hopkins is a perennial power in Minnesota girls' basketball. Since the 2004-05 season, the Royals have posted an unbelievable record of 150-30. They are as deep as they have ever been this year, with a nearly unheard of 12-player rotation. Hopkins has already beaten White Bear Lake and St. Michael-Albertville by 28+ points this season, two teams expected to be in the state tournament field this March. The Royals are led by a trio of guards in Sidney Coffey, Nia Coffey and Brianna Williams.

Rachel Banham vs Nia Coffey:
Rachel Banham has already signed a National Letter of Intent to play
basketball next year at the University of Minnesota, and has already been anointed as the player to give Pam Borton some job security.  However, I think that you would be surprised at Borton’s answer if
you asked which of these two she spent more time watching this summer. It’s closer than you’d think. Coffey is a joy to watch and her athleticism is almost unparalleled. She is able to score in a variety of ways and is also a top notch defender.

Why Lakeville North will win:
Rachel Banham is the best player in the state and she doesn’t like to lose.  Hopkins doesn’t have an experienced post defender to shut down Ojulu.  The Panthers just don’t lose. Not in the summer, or the fall, or the winter, or the spring.

Why Hopkins will win:
Their athletic guard defenders will give Lakeville North all sorts of fits in the back-court and getting into their offense.  The Royals' outstanding team defense and gritty style of play will neutralize Lakeville North’s offensive weapons.  Hopkins is one of the only teams in the state that is deeper than Lakeville North. This will allow them to stay fresher and outlast the Panthers.

Our prediction: Hopkins