Game of the Week: Park girls basketball versus Eastview

GAME OF THE WEEK

Who: Park girls basketball

What: Home opener vs. Eastview

Where: Park High School

When: Friday, Dec. 7, 7:15 p.m.

Most of the girls on the Park basketball team have had this one circled on their calendars since last year.

On Friday night at Park High School, the Wolfpack holds its home opener against No. 2-ranked Eastview.

The Lightning ended Park’s season in last year’s Section 3AAA championship game, 52-47, and are expected to likely stand in the way of the Wolfpack’s hopes of a state tournament appearance again this season.

“Games like this do so much for our community and so much for high school girls basketball,” Park head coach Stephanie Tolkinen said. “When you have a rivalry like this, people from both communities get up for it. It’ll be a lot of fun and a good test for us.”

Park has started the year 3-0, including a 4-point win over another good Section 3AAA foe, Apple Valley, this past Tuesday. Park guard Larissa Lurken has led the way for the Wolfpack thus far. The senior and Kent State signee is averaging a team-high 22 points per game this season, including a monster 31-point performance in a lopsided win over Pine Island at the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic. In addition to Lurken, junior guard Sydney Lamberty has been playing well too, averaging 17.7 points per game. Other players to watch for Park include senior center Courtney Waldo, junior forward Temi Ogunrinde and sophomore twin sisters Carlie and Annie Williams.

Eastview has also started out very strong. The Lightning are 3-0, including a 72-66 win on the road at seventh-ranked Minnetonka on Tuesday.

Eastview is led by Madison Guebert, who is the daughter of Lightning head coach Melissa Guebert. Guebert, a sophomore point guard, is averaging 23.3 points per game thus far. Other key players for Eastview include Tyra Johnson, a senior forward averaging 16.7 points per game, and Hana Metoxen, a sophomore guard averaging 10.7 points per game.

“They execute very well on offense and play very good defense,” Tolkinen said. “They’re always bothering the ball and they’re very physical. I think it’ll be quite a contest.”

The tip-off is set for 7:15 p.m. in Cottage Grove. You may want to show up early to get a seat.

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