The playoffs don't officially begin until next week, but Friday's game at East Ridge will likely be played with a postseason energy.
For starters, the winner takes home the Suburban East Conference championship, a title the Raptors (19-5, 15-1) have held the past two seasons after sharing it with Woodbury in 2017. The Raiders (21-3, 15-1) last held a share of the league title in 2016, when they tied Woodbury.
The game could also set the tone for the Class 4A, Section 4 tournament, which East Ridge won for the first time last season. Cretin-Derham Hall won the first game between these teams, 73-62 on Jan. 24, and the Raptors would like to soften the No. 3-4A Raiders' confidence heading into what could be a section final rematch.
East Ridge lost Courtney Brown to graduation and Kendall Brown to transfer after a fourth-place finish at last season's state tournament while Cretin-Derham Hall added leading scorer J'Vonne Hadley via transfer from Mahtomedi.
The Ben Carlson-led Raptors have won eight consecutive games and 15 of their last 16. Carlson, who will play at Wisconsin next season, averages 24.5 points per game and had 33 points in the first game at Cretin-Derham Hall. Sophomore Kendall Blue adds 14.5 points a game.
Hadley, who had 14 points in the January game against the Raptors, averages 19.2 points. Curtis Jones, who had 24 against East Ridge, contributes 16 points a game.