Friday Night Predictions: Waseca vs Jackson County Central leads the way
Waseca at Jackson County Central. Game of the night as Waseca is 20-2 while the defending Class AA runner-up is 20-3. JCC has won nine straight since taking that pummeling (87-45) from Marshall. This will be a step up in competition though and the Jays are coming in angry. The guard match-ups of Kaleb Nelson, Cole Streich, and Malik Willingham vs Jacob Christopher, Chris Gumto, East Bahr, and Ryan Christopher will be high quality. Ex-factors will be freshman Rudy Voss of JCC and Waseca’s Jake Guse up front. Just can’t see Waseca losing back to back games.
Maple Grove at Armstrong. The Falcons have won nine in a row including wins over Eden Prairie, Osseo, and Park Center while Maple Grove is 19-2. The previous game was an eight point win for the Crimson but this game is at home. The Falcons could not deal with Davison in the previous game s Brad had 39 points while Tywhon Pickford had 19 points and 16 boards. Race Thompson had a double-double in that game to. Armstrong is getting better play now from Isaiah Rollins so that will help Armstrong. I feel like the Crimson win by a score in a great game.
Red Lake at Nevis. The 18-3 Red Lake Warriors were held to 40 points in the last game. Remember, Red Lake averages 84 a game! Griffin Chase and company have won 15 straight and they haven’t been challenged in a month! Tonight that run continues, Nevis by 11.
Wayzata at Hopkins. The Trojans smoked the Royals last game. Demolished them in a way we aren’t used to in Minnesota. 81-55. Four Trojans in double figures and production ten deep. Hopkins had nothing to counter. Since then Wayzata has lost to Edina and East Ridge while Hopkins has won six of seven and avenged a loss to Edina. The game is at Hopkins. This will be different and it will be about pace. The Royals are letting things fly right now in a way that we haven’t seen them in the past. Another good game is expected, but I feel like Hopkins continues their late season run and gets an important win.
Pine Island at Rochester Lourdes. This may be the biggest toss up of the night. Both come in playing well although each had a loss recently they would like to have back. Broc Finstuen is putting up 20.1 points and 9.8 rebounds a game for a PI squad that has been way better than expected. Lourdes beat them the first time around but we think Pine Island events things up this evening.
Battle Lake at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. At 16-4 the Battlers are a contender in 6A. They are fighting with Parkers Prairie and Ortonville for the south while the North has been tipped on it’s headed with Hillcrest Lutheran and Lake Park-Audubon slipping (NCE/U-H leads). The section is open for either Battle Lake or Hillcrest to get hot and make a run but time is running out. Winner of this game could make that run. Battle Lake won the first one, likely wins by three tonight.
Lakeville South at Apple Valley. It looked like South had finally figure it out. They win six in a row including a nice win against Prior Lake in overtime and a controlling win over Eastview. They then lost the rivalry game to North which was the expectation. Can they beat Apple Valley and turn a corner? It’s now or never for a team that does have talent. The Tre Jones vs Jack Sorenson games do have the potential to be fun. Apple Valley smoked the Cougars out of the game last time getting a 20 plus point lead fast and Tre Jones had a triple-double. Tonight may not be an early dominance from the Eagles but they will win by ten.
Lake City at Byron. The last time Lace City beat Byron the Bears were on the road and just starting to dig themselves out of their own hole. Now Byron has won 9 of 12 including a big win over Lourdes. The Bears have home court edge plus Lake City has lost three of four and need a win. So who should be picked? The team on the hot streak or the team that needs the win the most? We go with Byron by four.
Breck at Heritage Christian. Is now the time Breck takes a step forward? After an awful start (1-4) this young bunch led by sophomore David Roddy and freshman Kerwin Walton is 11-8 and winners of 10 of their last 13. They have had solid wins but now the Stangs want that big win. Heritage Christian would be a big win but they are rolling. The only close games the Eagles have had are against Central Minnesota Christian and Minneapolis North (a loss) since the new year began. Breck will challenge but Heritage wins by seven.
BSM at Chaska. The Hawks are red hot winners of seven in a row including a huge victory over Jefferson. The Red Knights have lost six of eight including some Ls to teams that have less talent but are playing better together. Chaska won by ten on the road in the first meeting, tonight they win by 16.