Eden Prairie at Hopkins
7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 16

Hopkins seems to have rebounded from an early season skid, winning six games in a row. 

However, this week's matchup against Lake Conference rival Eden Prairie is the Royals' first game against a ranked opponent since a 77-52 victory at Waconia (now ranked No. 8-3A) on Dec. 19, which was the win that started the streak. 

The No. 3-4A Eagles and No. 10-4A Royals both enter the week 2-0 in the league. But a victory means the winner will gain more than a one-game lead in the conference standings, as Eden Prairie and Hopkins are Section 4 foes.  

Eden Prairie (12-0) is sixth in the state in scoring, averaging 80.4 points per game, while Hopkins (10-4) is seventh at 77.4 ppg, and both teams feature strong backcourts.

The Eagles' are led by by a senior guards in Grantham Gillard (19.6 ppg) and Blake Cashman (10.4 ppg).  The Royals counter with senior guard John Warren (17.0 ppg) and junior guard Xavier Johnson (13.4 ppg).

Hopkins last faced Eden Prairie in the section title game on March 5, which the Royals won 77-64.