Esko vs. Caledonia
4:45 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10

Esko and Caledonia seemed destined to meet in the Class 2A state tournament semifinals a year ago, but both high seeds were upset in the quarterfinals. While this meeting between northern (Esko) and southern (Caledonia) powers is nine months in the making, it is nonetheless still an important matchup as both start on making a return trip to state.

Esko (2-0) cruised to victories by 30 or more points in back-to-back games against Hermantown and Duluth Denfeld last week, a tall order that the No. 5-2A Eskomoes hope to continue behind Adam Trapp.

The 7-foot-3 junior has been garnering attention from several Big 10 programs and posted 25 points in the victory over Hermantown, but he may find Caledonia's 6-foot-5 Marten Morem poses more of a challenge on Saturday.

Morem finished with a team-high 14 points as the No. 1-2A Warriors (1-0) jumped out to a 28-point lead and used its bench to defeat Crestwood (Iowa) 68-47 on Dec. 3. Owen and Noah King each chipped in 13 points in the win.