Osseo coach Tim Theisen has his team pointed in the proper direction. The Orioles are 24-0 and have a chance to finish the regular season undefeated if they win their final two games, including the finale at Maple Grove on Friday. Photo by Drew Herrron
Perfection is not often achieved in high school basketball, but for the second time in as many seasons, a Northwest Suburban Conference team can to finish the regular season undefeated.
Like Champlin Park did a year ago, Osseo can enter the postseason without a loss, but only by winning two more games, including the regular-season finale at Northwest Suburban West Division rival Maple Grove.
The Orioles have a 24-0 overall record and have climbed to No. 2 in Minnesota Basketball News' Class 4A rankings.
Maintaining the unblemished mark, however, hasn't been easy.
While Osseo has been dominant in winning 20 games by double-digit margins, the Orioles have been tested. They eked out a win against Eden Prairie (56-52) and narrowly defeated Robbinsdale Armstrong twice (79-76, 72-70). Osseo was also pushed to the brink by Maple Grove in a 78-75 home win on Jan. 15.
The Orioles will likely have prove they can close out another tight contest in the rematch with the No. 4-4A Crimson, who would be more than happy to play spoiler.
Will Osseo's pursuit of perfection end prior to the postseason? Will Maple Grove be the team to stop the run? These questions make this matchup a no-brainer for the Top Game of the Week.
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