Coach Ken Novak Jr. and Hopkins aim to reclaim their dominance over Lake Conference rival Wazyata. With a win Friday, the Royals can avoid losing three straight to the Trojans. Photo by Brian Nelson, SportsEngine
Hopkins has traditionally had its way with Wayzata, winning 55 consecutive games in a 24-year span.
The Royals' run ended when the Trojans upset their Lake Conference rival 71-58 last January. Hopkins, however, still won the league crown -- its 10th in the past 11 seasons.
This year, the Royals are considered the challenger in the conference title race and enter the week trailing the Trojans by a game in the standings with three league contests remaining, including Friday's home matchup with Wayzata.
The Trojans seemed to take out a quarter century of frustration out on the Royals earlier this season, recording a 81-55 drubbing on Jan. 13, and now Hopkins is the team hoping to end a losing streak. The Royals need a victory to being swept by the Trojans this season and remain in contention for the league title.
After years of futility and a recent sampling of success, Wayzata likely won’t be satisfied with splitting the regular-season series with Hopkins. With a win, the Trojans will not only avoid that scenario but also move one victory closer to securing their first conference championship in since 1989. As an added bonus, a victory could also wrap up the top seed in the Class 4A, Section 6 tournament for Wayzata.
With so many storylines, the Trojans high-stakes matchup with the Royals is the perfect bet for our Top Game of the Week.
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