Upcoming Game of the Week: Elk River at Roseville

Grant McGinnis November 27, 2017 @ 04:15 PM

Put on your hard hat, grab the tool box and don't forget the blueprints because you are about to enter the construction zone. Our upcoming Game of the Week features the rebuilding state champions from Elk River versus the under-renovation Raiders of Roseville. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Roseville Area High School. Elk River completed its 32-0 dream season in March by winning the 4A state championship on the back of all-everything point guard Gabi Haack, now of D1 Bradley University. The rest of Elk River's core has also graduated, including Kelsie Cox (Jamestown), Ava Kramer (UW-LaCrosse), Sidney Wentland (Denver), and Danielle Lachmiller (UW-River Falls). With contributions of a whopping 66 points per game, that's an awful lot to lose. Over at Roseville, it's the post-Kaia Porter era as the Raiders regroup following the departure of seven seniors. Porter was the glue that made Roseville go, and she's now doing the same at the University of St. Thomas. So who has the edge? Elk River played twice over the weekend, falling by 20 to Moorhead and recording a victory over Rosemount. Coach Jeremy Digiovanni has been experimenting with his lineup, but so far his go-to girl is Gabi's younger sister Lydia, a talented-but-tiny point guard who put up 20 against the Irish. 6'1" Senior Matia Person and 6'1" freshman Johanna Langbehn have been splitting time at center, while sophomore guards Alexa Engebretson and Mikayla Kanenwisher will no doubt play big minutes against the Raiders. Roseville returns more experience than Elk River, as starters Kaylee Nelson (junior) and Jayda Johnston (sophomore) are back. Nelson, a 5'9" combo guard, is a Minnesota Duluth commit. Johnston is a gritty 6'1" power forward with D1 offers. Junior Jada Hood takes over at point guard while sophomore Josie Haug will no doubt start in the post. Roseville plays its first game Tuesday against Osseo. In scrimmages on Saturday against Rogers, Lakeville North and St. Michael-Albertville, the Raiders were much better than expected. Tamia Ugass, a 6'3" freshman center, may be a factor off the bench. Prediction: Roseville by 10. TOP TALENT ON DISPLAY Elk River <ul> <li>Lydia Haack, 5'4" sophomore PG</li> <li>Alexa Engebretson, 5'6" sophomore G</li> <li>Mikayla Kanenwisher, 5'3" sophomore CG</li> <li>Matia Person, 6'1" senior C</li> <li>Johanna Langbehn, 6'1" freshman C</li> </ul> Roseville <ul> <li>Kaylee Nelson, 5'9" junior CG (Minnesota-Duluth)</li> <li>Jada Hood, 5'9" junior PG</li> <li>Jayda Johnston, 6'1" sophomore PF</li> <li>Josie Haug, 5'10" sophomore F/C</li> <li>Tamia Ugass, 6'3" freshman C</li> </ul> OTHER GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK Tuesday: Robbinsdale Cooper at Minneapolis North (high-speed hoops!), Cromwell-Wright at Mountain Iron-Buhl (powerhouse 1A programs) Friday: Annandale at Kimball (Hannah Purcell vs Erin O'Brien in the paint) Saturday: Breakdown Tipoff at Hopkins – A dozen great games including Mahtomedi vs DeLaSalle, STMA vs Eastview, Lakeville North vs Wayzata, Heritage Christian vs Wheaton-Herman-Norcross, and Hopkins vs Centennial. We will be there to provide complete coverage.