Melrose has controlled the West Central Conference recently, winning the last three league titles while extending a conference game winning streak to 34.
That run of success has put a target on the backs of the No. 7-2A Dutchmen, and No. 1-5A BOLD and No. 10-2A Minnewaska are just two of the teams with their sights set on dethroning Melrose (2-1, 1-0) this season.
BOLD gets its first dibs when the Warriors host the Dutchmen on Tuesday. BOLD (5-0, 1-0) has been unstoppable this season, scoring 80.8 points per game in five blowouts. Its closest game was a 79-61 win over Morris in the league opener.
The Warriors boast a backcourt duo of Drew and Jordan Sagedahl. The brothers combined for 43 points in Friday's 84-65 win over Renville County West.
Melrose, on the other hand, suffered its first loss of the season last week in a 64-54 defeat to Albany despite getting 16 points from senior guard Preston Keaveny and nine from sophomore forward Rowen Nelson.
Defeating the wounded Dutchmen could prove difficult, and the Warriors don't have history on their side, falling to their rival 71-60 and 64-54 last season.