Game of the Week #6 Preview: Anoka vs Champlin Park

Champlin Park (2-0, 7-2) figured to be pretty good this year, but after starting the season 3-2 with losses to Maple Grove and Minnetonka we weren't so sure. Anoka (2-0, 7-4), on the other hand, roared out of the starting gate with five straight wins, including an impressive defeat of Grand Rapids and three other ranked teams. The Tornadoes have now lost four of their last six and now there are a number of question marks. The two Northwest Suburban Conference North Division teams will meet Wednesday at Champlin Park in the Northstar Girls Hoops Game of the Week. Champlin Park is on a bit of a roll. Led by senior point guard Erica Hicks and her 21 points per game, the Rebels have knocked off a pair of top 10 teams in the past two weeks – Centennial and Cretin-Derham Hall – and have vaulted all the way up to #6 in our 4A rankings. Champlin Park returned most of its core this season, always an omen for success. Some thought the absence of the graduated Allison Gerads would make more of an impact but it really hasn't. Hicks is a battle-tested veteran and she has been stellar thus far. Her fellow seniors Amanda Pollard and Gabby Mocchi have been equally good. Pollard is averaging 13 points per game and the athletic guard has committed to D1 Wagner. Mocchi (12 ppg) has used her size and strength to great effect and is committed to Montana State. Last year Champlin Park was 9-3 in conference play, second behind undefeated Elk River. In his conference preview Marc predicted that the Rebels would finish second in the North Division with Anoka in fourth. Based on what we have seen so far, it looks like the Rebels might be able to challenge Centennial for the championship. We're not sure what to make of Anoka, which dropped to #17 in Monday's 4A rankings update. Their swoon began on Dec. 15 with a 24-point loss to Park Center. Three days later Anoka blew a substantial lead, losing to Roseville by six. This past week, the Tornadoes were beaten twice at the Rochester holiday tournament, losing to a pair of streaking squads – by six to St. Peter (winners of four of its last five) and by two to Rochester Lourdes (winners of five in a row). Led by high-scoring senior wing Noelle Josephson, Anoka also has size inside with 6'1" Lily Schoknecht, who is averaging 11 points per game. Guards Jersi McAlpine and Elizabeth Torgerson have been very good at times. Senior Justine Watson, a transfer from Centennial, has been a pleasant surprise and is scoring in double figures. Despite their recent difficulties, Anoka still has the ingredients for success and we would expect them to rebound. Will it happen against Champlin Park? Don't bet the farm. Players to watch for Champlin Park Erica Hicks, senior guard, 21 ppg Amanda Pollard, senior guard, 13 ppg (Wagner) Gabby Mocchi, senior forward, 12 ppg (Montana State) Makayla Johnson, junior forward, 5 ppg Megan Munneke senior forward, 4 ppg Players to watch for Anoka Noelle Josephson, senior guard, 11 ppg Elizabeth Torgerson, junior guard, 11 ppg Lily Schoknecht, senior post, 11 ppg Justine Watson, senior guard, 10 ppg Jersi McAlpine, sophomore guard, 3 ppg Other games to watch this week Wednesday Maranatha at Wayzata White Bear Lake at Centennial Thursday Glencoe-Silver Lake at New London-Spicer St. Peter at Waseca Friday Park Center at Centennial Stewartville at Lake City Saturday Sioux Falls Washington at Hopkins Chisago Lakes at Grand Rapids Mountain Iron-Buhl at Red Lake Minnehaha Academy at DeLaSalle