St. Francis at Duluth East
7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16

One of the four top seeds in Class 4A, Section 7 will be on the line when Duluth East meets St. Francis on Thursday. 

The Greyhounds kicked off the season losing six consecutive games while working through a grueling nonconference schedule. They bounced back well by winning their next six, and begin the second week of February on another run -- having gone 5-1 in their last six contests. Cody Carlson leads Duluth East (11-9) in scoring at 18.6 points per game.

The Fighting Saints were rolling in the new calendar year with eight wins in their first 10 games. However, St. Francis (10-11, 4-5) has dipped recently with a three-game skid and could use a late-season road victory to get back on a winning trajectory. 

Forward Ryan Svihel (11.9 ppg) is the Fighting Saints' top scorer and Genuine Matthews, a North Dakota State track signee, can slash his way to the basket and through the press when needed.