Burnsville at Apple Valley
7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 8

Apple Valley dropped its first game of the season, losing to then-ranked No. 2-4A Champlin Park at the Granite City Classic in St. Cloud on Dec. 27. 

Having the pressure of an undefeated season lifted off the Eagles may have come at good time as Apple Valley begins the new year heading into league play.

The Eagles earned an 80-61 win over Eastview on Jan. 2 to improve to 4-0 in the South Suburban Conference. Burnsville is up next for Apple Valley, and the Blaze are looking for a signature win.

Burnsville (6-6) has seemingly alternating wins and losses, including in league play where they are 2-2.

Gary Trent Jr. leads the Eagles in scoring (21.7 ppg). But he isn't carrying the team as Jordan Bolton (15.9 ppg), Brock Bertram (14.6 ppg, 11.3 rebounds per game) and Cameron Kirksey (10.6 ppg) have chipped in.

Apple Valley has dominated this matchup in recent years. The Blaze's last win (79-76) was on Feb. 5, 2010.