Preparing for Osseo is one thing. Actually surviving the Orioles’ buzz-saw defense? That’s something different altogether.

Eden Prairie thought it was ready to take on the undefeated and top-seeded Orioles in the Class 4A quarterfinals Wednesday, but quickly experienced the difference between practice speed and game speed. Osseo ran out to a 10-0 lead and never trailed by less, cruising past Eden Prairie 85-73 and into Thursday’s semifinals.

“Teams try to practice and prepare for us, but they can’t duplicate the defense as we play it,” Osseo coach Tim Theisen said.

Eden Prairie turned the ball over eight times in the pivotal first half, which ended with Osseo leading 39-24. That, said Eden Prairie coach David Flom, was just too big of a hole to climb out of.

“Their quickness to the ball and then their ability to go get the ball is outstanding,” Flom said. “They’re tough and they’re strong. Give them a lot of credit.”

Osseo (30-0) prides itself on its depth. The Orioles go nine deep on their bench with very little dropoff and all are expected to score, if needed. Against the Eagles, it was John Bezdicek’s turn. The junior guard scored a career-high 21 points, including four three-pointers, and punctuated his big game by swatting away an Eden Prairie layup to thwart a rally that looked promising.

“We have confidence that anyone can make the shot or make the pass,” Bezdicek said. “I played well today, but if you told me I would [score 21 points], I would have said you were crazy.”

Eden Prairie (16-14), which had lost its last three regular season games before getting hot in the playoffs, was led by guard Brady Rudrud’s 30 points.

People keep finding reasons to doubt Osseo and the Orioles keep finding ways to prove them wrong.

Osseo got a season-high 21 points from junior guard John Bezdicek and used its depth to hold off a second-half charge to defeat Eden Prairie 85-73 in the Class 4A quarterfinals on Wednesday at Target Center.

Osseo (30-0) scored the game’s first 10 points and took a 39-24 halftime lead. Eden Prairie regouped in the second half and twice got as closer as 10 points, but the Eagles could not get closer.

Brady Rudrud led Eden Prairie (16-14) with 28 points.

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