Skippers' Boy Hoops Team Face Talented Field in Best Buy Holiday Classic

MINNETONKA PATCH GAME OF THE WEEK

Boy’s Basketball
Minnetonka (6-1, 0-0 Lake Conference) vs. Henry Sibley (3-3, 0-0 Classic Suburban Conference)

CHEAT SHEET
SITE: Augsburg – Best Buy Holiday Classic first round
TIME: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
LAST MEETING: Henry Sibley defeated Minnetonka at home 79-68 on January 16, 2010. .

ON THE LINE
This matchup could be called the “Tom Dasovich Bowl." The current skipper head coach served as the Henry Sibley head man when the two teams meet in the 2008 Class 4A title, which Minnetonka won 68-59.

Both teams have made strong strides this season. Minnetonka is arguably the state’s most improved team this season. The Skippers were just 4-23 last year and lost their last 15 games of the season, but added three transfers who are starters this year.

The Skippers are getting excellent scoring balance with four players averaging double figures. Patrick Henry transfer Latrell Love has scored in double figures in six of seven games and leads the team with 17.4 points per game. Junior Riley Dearring, who played at Minneapolis DeLaSalle last season, is scoring 15.7 points per contest. Senior guards Tommy McDermott and Joe Risinger add 15.3 and 11.4 points per game, respectively.

Henry Sibley was just 6-17 and lost its last six games of the year. The Warriors are a team that relies on three-point shooting. Junior Adam Huessner is off to a strong start, averaging 17.7 points per game. Zach Haas, another good outside threat, is adding 11.2 points per game and three-sport athlete Dante Grant adds 10.5 points. Developing center Alex Stafford has scored in double figures in his past three games for the Warriors.

The winner of this game faces the victor of St. Paul Johnson versus Las Vegas Durango Thursday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tommy McDermott - Minnetonka guard
The senior has provided key leadership and backcourt scoring for the Skippers since his return after missing the first four games of the season.

Adam Huessner – Henry Sibley guard
The senior has nearly doubled his scoring average from last season, upping his offensive production from 9.6 points to 17.7 points per game this year.

SKIPPERS WIN IF...
They can continue to get balanced scoring from their up-tempo offense.

WARRIORS WIN IF...
They can hit their outside shots to take the pressure off their inside scorers.