The holiday season officially concludes this week. However, that doesn't mean we weren't treated to some exciting holiday tournament matchups featuring many of the state's top teams.
For example: Park Center, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News from Dec. 25, defeated No. 3-4A Prior Lake 82-68 on Dec. 27; Wayzata, a preseason Class 4A top-10 team, beat No. 2-4A Cretin-Derham Hall 83-74 the same day; and No. 1-1A Henning triumphed over No. 5-1A Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 79-73 on Dec. 27, before losing 77-70 to No. 2-1A BOLD the next day.
And that's where we start for the first Top Game of the Week of the new decade.
Can the Warriors maintain their emotional equilibrium after such a big victory, and take care of business against Minnewaska Area?
BOLD should have plenty of motivation after a disappointing end to its season a year ago, losing to New Ulm Cathedral in the Class 1A, Section 2 semifinals. The Warriors (7-0, 3-0) returned all but two players (one starter) from last season's squad and began this season ranked second in the preseason poll.
Junior guard Drew Sagedahl has taken control of a team that already had two career 1,000-point scorers in Jordan Sagedahl and Gavin Vosika. Drew Sagedahl is averaging 27 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists after scoring almost 15 points a game as a sophomore.
Jordan Sagedahl averages 16.2 points, and Vosika adds 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game.
Minnewaska Area (6-1, 3-1), a Class 2A program, counters with senior guard Grant Jensen (15.8 ppg), and juniors Peyton Johnsrud (12.8 ppg) and Aaron Ver Steeg (12.2-9.6).
The Lakers won their first four games of the season before being defeated 68-61 by Benson on Dec. 13.