Hill-Murray didn’t really care for the media’s portrayal of its girls’ basketball team heading into the big matchup with Eden Prairie last Saturday in the Breakdown Sports Tip Off Classic at Hopkins.

“There were articles about us saying we were going to lose and we took that and we really went with it,” said senior center Bethany Doolittle, who scored a team-high 22 points in the 59-45 upset victory. “We got mad and angry and got out there and gave it all we had. We all just took the negative energy from the critics and stuff and put it into that game.”

Message received. And that was even before they went out and pounded Lakeville South 74-46 on the road Tuesday night.

Last season’s Class 3A runners-up proved it can hang with — and beat — the biggest programs in the state. The Pioneers have started 4-0, with every victory by at least 14 points.

A lot is going right for the Pioneers early on this season. But boisterous and commanding coach Erin Herman will be the first one to point out this is not when Hill-Murray should be peaking.

“We’ve got to play at this level all the time and that’s going to be the challenge,” said Herman, who refocused her players after falling behind Eden Prairie 24-20 in the first half.

At 6-3, Doolittle gives Hill-Murray a towering presence around the hoop, along with shooting, strength and shot-blocking ability. The Iowa recruit should continue to be a force all season. Senior guard Corrine McCallum is off to a strong start, moving and shooting the ball well, averaging 16.8 points per game.

Junior Tessa Cichy brings athleticism, intensity and scoring ability. Cichy put up a team-leading 22 points against Lakeville South. Cichy watches more film than any player Herman has ever coached.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever coached anybody who is as physically strong, fit [and] able to do as many things as she can do physically,” Herman said. “She’s the whole package, and I think she’s even going to get better. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime [chance to coach her]. It really is. I’m blessed, for sure.”

Adding to the drama of the early season, Hill-Murray played Eden Prairie right after watching defending Class 3A champion Benilde-St. Margaret’s at the Tip-Off Classic, seeing the team that beat them in the state final fall to Bloomington Kennedy.

“How we play now and how they play now is nothing,” Cichy said. “They’re going to get better. We’re going to get better.”

The two Class 3A heavyweights will not face each other during the regular season. If they meet again, it will be in familiar territory.