On the surface, Tuesday night’s matchup between No. 1, 2A Plainview-Elgin-Millville (12-1) and No. 3, 2A Caledonia (10-1) looks like just another showdown between two highly ranked teams. But a closer look reveals there's plenty more to it.

The Bulldogs and Warriors are fierce rivals in every sport, battling for the top spot in the Three Rivers Conference each season. The football matchup this year was decided by just one point—a 14-13 victory for Caledonia, the eventual 2A state champs.

On the basketball court, their first meeting this year has serious implications. Not only do the teams enter Tuesday unbeaten in conference play, they are both highly ranked in the state and have aspirations of playing deep into March.

"We have a mutual respect, but the rivalry is there. That's the big thing in our conference," Caledonia coach Josh Diersen said. "We get to play them twice every year so it's kind of like a mid-term, to see where we're at and where they're at."

Midway through the season, it's safe to say both squads are getting high grades.

Plainview has been the top-ranked team in 2A all season long, returning a core that took third place in last year's state tournament. Their only loss this year was to No. 4, 4A Osseo in the championship game of the Rochester Rotary Tournament. Caledonia got off to a 10-0 start before losing a tough road test against 3A Austin on Saturday.

Plainview senior Cole Olstad, a fifth-year varsity player who was also the Bulldogs' starting quarterback, is very familiar with Caledonia on both the gridiron and hardwood.

"It’s definitely a big rivalry. Every game we play with them is usually close and really physical," said Olstad, a Class 2A all-state basketball selection last season. "I know our guys are ready for it and we’re looking forward to it."

Olstad, a 6-4 guard who passed 2,500 points in Friday's win over Wabasha-Kellogg, is averaging 30.5 points per game. His offensive talent is a big concern for Diersen and his Warriors.

"Size-wise we match up, we just have to limit Cole's touches. We've got to find him early and not let him leak out and get fast break points," Diersen said. "If he gets the ball and goes on a fast break, he's so good with the ball he can score many ways."

If the Warriors are able to keep Olstad in check, the Bulldogs have three 6-4 post players in their lineup to lean on. Plainview coach Kirk Thompson is hopeful that the supporting cast -- senior Landon Flies and juniors Chase Montgomery and Sam Ruth -- will be ready to step up if Olstad isn't finding open space.

"Their number one priority will be to stop [Cole]. ... We’ve got to focus on playing our game," said the Bulldogs' fifth-year coach. "We have a lot of talented players other than Cole, and those guys need to step up and play a big game."

Caledonia has 10 seniors on its roster and likes to play an aggressive, usually full-court press defense. Senior guard Josh Gran, who also doubles as a quarterback in the fall and led the Warriors to a state championship this year, is the team's leading scorer at 15.4 ppg. Senior post players Mitch Reiser and Ethan Lapham also average in double figures for the Warriors.

The game will be played at Plainview's gym, which holds between 900 and 1,000 fans. The Bulldogs have been almost unbeatable there the last three years, having won 51 consecutive conference games. Their last home loss?

February of 2008 against Caledonia.

"They’re going to try to be very physical... They’re going to try to take us out of our rhythm," Thompson said. "It should be wild. A win would be huge."