With the Suburban East Conference season at its midpoint, Cretin-Derham Hall and Roseville have once again emerged as the top competitors for the league championship.
The teams posted 11-5 conference records and finished tied with White Bear Lake and East Ridge atop the league standings a year ago, but both Raiders' squads seem intent on avoiding a four-way finish this season.
Cretin-Derham Hall, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, holds a one-game lead on No. 9-4A Roseville in the conference standings after defeating its rival 67-45 victory on Dec. 8. Cretin-Derham Hall's Frannie Hottinger led all scorers with 24 points, while Roseville's Jayda Johnston tallied 13 points.
With a victory on Jan. 23 in our Top Game of the Week, Cretin-Derham Hall (11-3, 7-1) will sweep the regular-season series with Roseville and help clear a path to winning its second consecutive conference title.
Cretin-Derham Hall will rely on Hottinger (19.1 points per game), as well as Autam Mendez (13.7 ppg) and Elizabeth Edinger (11.5 ppg), to counter to Roseville's stingy defense -- one that allows just 41.8 ppg.
Slowing Cretin-Derham Hall's potent offense is the best option for Roseville (13-3, 6-2) if it is going to pull the upset. Roseville has the scored the second-fewest points in the Suburban East with 805 on the season, and Johnson is the only player averaging double-digits in points (11.8).