The top teams in Class 1A have been excellent all season, and very little has changed in the rankings since Minnesota Basketball News released its preseason poll.
North Woods has been ranked No. 1 since the initial poll, and the Grizzlies' play so far has backed up their top spot. North Woods (9-0, 1-0) has won each contest by at least 14 points, with 77 points being its lowest scoring total this season. Opponents, meanwhile, have never scored more than 60 points in a game this season.
Top scorers Tate Olson (24.3 points per game) and Cade Goggleye (21.7 ppg) return from last season's Class 1A runner-up squad, and the two will be eager to lead the Grizzlies back to the state tournament, especially after the departure of Class 1A champions Minneapolis North to Class 2A.
Nevis started the year ranked fifth in Class 1A, but the Tigers quickly rose to No. 3 after some dominant performances in the early going.
Unlike North Woods, Nevis (8-0, 3-0) lost its dominant offensive presence from last season's state tournament run. The offense, led by seniors Michael Landquist (13.3 ppg) and Thomas Wormley (11 ppg), is still capable of putting up 112 points, as it did against Northland on Jan. 4, but the Tigers have won most of their games without breaking 70 points.
A stifling defense has kept every Nevis opponent under 50 points this season, and six of eight opponents have not reached 40.
This matchup of two thematically divergent, elite Class 1A squads hitting their stride with an eye on the approaching state tournament makes this an easy choice for the Top Game of the Week.