Melrose at Sauk Centre
6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10

Sauk Centre appears to be playing its best basketball as the regular season winds down. The Mainstreeters have won nine consecutive games and carry that momentum into an important matchup with local rival Melrose on Feb. 10.

The Dutchmen (20-2, 5-0) are vying with Sauk Centre (16-4, 6-1) for first place the West Central Conference West Division standings, and victory would not only help decide the division leader, but also impact seeding in Class 2A, Section 6 for the teams located in towns separated by 10 miles on Interstate 94.

The Mainstreeters lost to Melrose 67-53 on Dec. 12, and could avenge the defeat and end the Dutchmen's five-game winning streak with a win.

Sauk Centre enters the matchup off a 71-53 win over Montevideo on Feb. 6. Senior guard Matthew Moritz scored 25 points and senior center Cole Neubert finished with 17 to lead the Mainstreeters.

Melrose defeated Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 60-53 on Feb. 6 behind the play of junior forward Drake Meyer, who made five three-pointers and finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.