No. 2 Hopkins at No. 3 Osseo
7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11
MN Basketball Hub Spotlight Game

It was hard to believe that Osseo was a better team without injured big man Ian Theisen (16.2 ppg) and starter Matt Miedtke, both of whom are sitting on the bench. Theisen may be out for the season with what is rumored are torn ligaments in his ankle, while Miedtke tore his ACL in December and is lost for the year. But the Orioles somehow rattled off 11 straight victories in their absence. That run was spurred by senior Wheeler Baker (24.1 ppg), who stepped up his game in their absence and has six games with at least 30 points this year, including a 41-point effort in a loss at Robbinsdale Armstrong.

But missing players the caliber of Theisen (no relation to coach Tim Theisen) and Miedtke was sure to catch up to Osseo. It finally did last week, as the Orioles dropped back-to-back games to Maple Grove (65-64 on Feb. 7) and at Park Center (69-66 on Feb. 8). Neither was a blow out, but each may have been much different with a full strength Orioles’ team.

Baker had 26 points against Maple Grove, but just 12 in the loss to Park Center, his second-lowest output of the season. Jordan Dembley (12.8 ppg) stepped up with 14 points and Connor Kittleson added 15, but it was not enough.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier with Hopkins on tap. The Royals have lost just once this year, a 96-90 thriller against Apple Valley way back on Dec. 10. Since then Hopkins has won 16 straight games, regularly knocking down 80 and 90 points per game.

The Royals’ lineup is reminiscent of their dynasty of past years, when they won six state titles in the decade from 2002 to 2011.

Senior and Citadel commit Jake Wright (17.4 ppg) leads five Royals in double-digit scoring. He’s one of the state’s best three-point shooters and deadly well into NBA range. Guard Kamali Chambers (11.3 ppg) runs the point like his brother, former Mr. Basketball winner Siyani Chambers. He’s more of a pass-first point guard than his brother but can score when needed. Kamali is also one of the state’s best on-ball defenders.

Wings Amir Coffey (14.7 ppg) and Stephon Sharp (15.4 ppg) aren’t big bodies, but are athletic players who can also score. Coffey, the son of former Minnesota Gopher Richard Coffey, is arguably the best sophomore in the state and the heir to the title of the “next great.”  Guards John Warren (11.1 ppg) and Noble Fahnbulleh (9.4 ppg) just add to the depth and versatility of the Hopkins’ lineup.