The end of the regular season is upon us, but there are still undecided conference races as the calendar ticks to March. If Rochester John Marshall can take care of business against Big 9 Conference foe Rochester Century on Tuesday, the Rockets will have a shot to secure a piece of their fourth consecutive league title with a victory over Austin on Friday -- our Top Game of the Week.
Matthew Hurt is the main threat for Rochester John Marshall, averaging 34.1 points, 14.2 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. The 6-foot-9 junior forward had 31 points and 14 rebounds in 80-64 loss to the Packers on Jan. 13, and was only one of four Rockets to score in the game.
If the Rochester John Marshall (22-2, 18-2) is going to avenge the loss, it will need its defense to return to suffocating opponents. Only five teams have broken the 70-point barrier against the Rockets this season, and Austin is the only team to reach 80.
Limiting the No. 2-3A Packers won't be easy. Austin did not lose a game until falling to Owatonna 72-61 on Jan. 16, and the Packers bounced back by reeling off 12 consecutive victories. It's a streak the team hopes to extend with a win on Friday, when a win will lock up the conference title outright.
Austin (24-1, 20-1) does not have the singular firepower that Rochester John Marshall boasts, but it can still be potent on offense behind a balanced attack. Duoth Gach is the team's leading scorer at 16.8 points per game, and in the last meeting with the Rockets, every Packer who saw minutes scored at least six points.
Austin's defense has been just as impressive as Rochester John Marshall's, allowing only three teams to score more than 70 points. The Packers are coming off a 88-39 win against Albert Lea on Saturday, and if the defense can stay locked in at a high level, Austin has a real chance to win its first conference title since the 2013-14 season.