Win-E-Mac coach Vern Johnson put some perspective on Tuesday's game at No. 6-1A Cass Lake-Bena.
"It's not a do-or-die situation," he said. "Yet."
With two games remaining in the regular season, both teams will continue playing no matter the outcome in this matchup. That wasn't the case the last time these teams met, which was in the Class 1A, Section 8 semifinals last March. Cass Lake-Bena won 63-38 on its way to the state tournament.
Johnson said his Patriots (18-4, 7-1) gained valuable experience in that loss, which has carried over to this season.
Senior Brekken Lindberg (13.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and sophomores Gavin Walker (12.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Bryer Strom (10.1 ppg, 3.8 assists per game) lead the Patriots, who seek their first state tournament berth since 2000.
To get there, Win-E-Mac will likely have to go through Cass Lake-Bena and No. 9-1A Ada-Borup in the section playoffs.
That will be no easy task, but Tuesday's game should help provide a game plan should the teams meet in the postseason.
The Panthers (23-1, 13-0) have rolled through the regular season behind 20-point scorer Jarrell Jacobs, a junior, and seniors Ethan and Jared Brown.