Brooklyn Center at Columbia Heights
6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10

Five miles of Interstate 694, along with the Mississippi River, is all that separates these Tri-Metro Conference West Division competitors who are looking to open their league schedule with a win.

Brooklyn Center won five straight games to start the season, but has since seen its young roster tested in losses to No. 3-3A Totino-Grace (67-65), No. 1-1A Minneapolis North (95-76) and No. 5-4A Park Center (91-74). 

The Centaurs (7-3) have had their triumphs, though, beating Michele Clark Prep (Ill.) 87-80 in overtime and rolling St. Paul Johnson 75-60 last Saturday.

Lu’Cye Patterson leads Brooklyn Center with 18.3 points and seven assists per game, and the freshman has also gone 45-of-48 from the free-throw line. Senior Devonta Prince is posting 16 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. 

Columbia Heights had its six-game winning streak snapped in a 72-65 loss to Robbinsdale Armstrong last Saturday and is eager to get back into the win column. Deaundra Roberson, who averages a team-high 16.9 ppg, sank a buzzer-beater for Hylanders (7-3) in their 55-53 win over No. 7-3A Mahtomedi on Jan. 5.