Skippers Look To Stay Unbeaten Versus Buffalo

MINNETONKA PATCH GAME OF THE WEEK

Boy’s Basketball
Minnetonka (3-0, 0-0 Lake Conference) vs. Buffalo (1-1, 0-0 Mississippi 8 Conference)

CHEAT SHEET
SITE: Minnetonka – Breakdown Tip-Off Classic
TIME: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
LAST MEETING: This is the first meeting between the two schools.

ON THE LINE
The Skippers look to be one of the state’s most improved teams this season. They were just 4-23 last year and lost their last 15 games of the season, but added three transfers who are starting this season. The Skippers are getting excellent scoring balance with four players averaging double figures. Buffalo won the Mississippi 8 Conference last year with a 14-2 mark and was 21-8 overall. They lost to Maple Grove in the Section 8AAAA finals. The Bison were a streaky team last year. They started last season 0-3, but won 13 straight. However, they were just 3-4 in their final seven games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Riley Dearring - Minnetonka forward
The junior, a transfer from Minneapolis DeLaSalle, is averaging 19.7 points per game. Dearring has scored more than 20 points in two of his three games.

Dominic Gilmer – Buffalo forward
The senior has nearly doubled his scoring average from last season, upping his offensive production from 7.5 points to 14.0 points per game this season.

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

BISON WIN IF...
They can slow down the Skippers’ fast break. Minnetonka wants to run, so the Bison will want to make it more of a half-court game.