skip navigation

Tip Off Classic preview: Stillwater vs. Eden Prairie

By Ryan James, Northstar Hoops Report, 12/10/14, 6:45PM CST

Share

3:45 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13 at Minnetonka's West gym

Preview

Stillwater is off to a rough start this year losing three of four games so far and then beating only struggling Woodbury.   In fairness to the Ponies, they had been without senior Albany bound center Kyle McKinley and power forward Matt Anderson early in the year.  Plus the losses were to CDH, Johnson, and Rogers…The night before playing EP, Stillwater has to face Roseville. 

Meanwhile, EP will have another day’s rest after they play Cooper on Thursday…EP is undefeated beating Rosemount, Prior Lake, Eagan, and Eastview…Grantham Gillard leads the team with 16 points a game, Owen Chose gives the team ten a game, and then backing them up are six others that have scored in double figures at least once this season…Connor Gamble leads Stillwater with 22.2 points per game…

Key Matchup

Connor Gamble, Stillwater vs Blake Cashman, Eden Prairie

Gamble needs to score for the Ponies to stay in this game to the end.  EP will throw a few defenders at him including Cashman who has also been a scorer for the Ponies for the past couple years.

Prediction

Why Eden Prairie will win:  They have way more depth to their squad at every spot and every guy that plays is tough and disciplined or they won’t be in the rotation because the team is so deep.  They will wear their opponents down.

Why Stillwater will win:  Gamble will have to go off, Anderson and McKinley need to control the paint, and then a few role players have to have big games too.

2014 Boys' Tip Off schedule


Tip Off Classic previews