St. Louis Park stumbled out of the gate, losing six of its first nine games this season, but has worked its way back into Metro West Conference championship contention.
A victory Friday at No. 9-4A Chaska could put the Orioles 15-7, 9-1), who have won 12 of their last 13 games, atop the league standings with two regular-season games remaining.
Each team has a Tuesday test to set up a showdown of Metro West leaders, as St. Louis Park hosts Benilde-St. Margaret's and Chaska (17-5, 9-1) plays at rival Chanhassen.
Paris Johnson, a sophomore averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and senior Anthony Rayson (14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game) led the way for St. Louis Park in a victory over Chaska on Jan. 25. Johnson scored 20 and Rayson had 16 to push the Orioles past the Hawks 67-65.
Chaska's standout senior Cole Nicholson had 17 in the loss, just below his season average of 22.5 ppg. Conner Krenos, a senior guard who averages 13.9 ppg, also had 17 points.