Of all the matchups in the Breakdown Sports Tip Off Classic, this one offers the two teams with the most similarities. Both Maple Grove and Prior Lake are primarily senior led teams with a ton of experience.
One could argue that both were disappointed in how their seasons ended last year. With the end of their high school careers is now within sight, so you can expect all of these seniors and their teammates will be hungry to show the rest of the state what they can do.

Prior Lake has to be angry with the lack of respect going into this season. The Lakers are a very experienced team with plenty of weapons, but are without a preseason ranking. With a tough game out of the chute in Eden Prairie, they should have had a lot to learn from and be ready for Maple Grove. Prior Lake is led by Megan Pold and Erica Trabing. Both averaged double figures last season.

Maple Grove is led by seniors Ellen Edison, Anna Gerdes and Steph Davison, all three of which has accepted scholarships to play basketball at the next level. All three have had long careers at Maple Grove and would like nothing more than to end their careers with a state championship. For those who think that Class AAAA is a three horse race between Hopkins, Eden Prairie and Lakeville North; Maple Grove
probably has some words for you.

Erica Trabing vs Steph Davison:
Trabing is a slasher who can ignite her team with a flurry of scoring,
while Davison is more of a shoot first kind of guard. They should match up pretty evenly defending each other, so it will be interested to see who has the advantage here.

Why Prior Lake will win:
Maple Grove will have no answer for the size of Megan Pold and Tiffaney Flaata on the block.  They will not allow Maple Grove to get comfortable in their half-court offense, using their high pressure defense.

Why Maple Grove will win:
The Crimson are a better three-point shooting team and their guards will get hot behind the arc.  Their superior depth will allow them to ramp up the tempo and wear Prior Lake down.

Our prediction: Prior Lake