Owatonna Hosts New Prague in Basketball Playoffs Wednesday
The Owatonna High School boys' basketball team is on a season-long roll heading into Wednesday's Section 1AAAA playoff opener against New Prague at the OHS gym at 7PM. Since a 3-4 start, the Huskies have won 17 of their last 19 games. The streak includes a sweep of top-five ranked Mankato East and a win over Big Nine co-champ Austin. The only losses recently include an overtime setback against the Packers and a disappointing loss to John Marshall. OHS should get a rematch with the Rockets with a win over the Trojans Wednesday.
Owatonna (20-6) is tied for the highest scoring team in the section with top-seed Lakeville North at 73.6 points per game. New Prague (12-14) is the lowest scoring team in the section at under 52 points per game, but they also allow the fewest at 53 points per contest. The only common opponent for the teams is Rochester Mayo. OHS swept the Spartans 79-51 and 74-58 and New Prague won 71-52.
Like Owatonna, New Prague plays a mix of 4A and 3A teams. The Trojans play in the Wright County Conference-East, where they went 5-5. No. 4AAA Orono won the conference race. New Prague went 1-3 against teams from the South Suburban Conference and played highly ranked East Ridge and Eden Prairie, losing to each by about 20 points.
The winner advances to the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester for a 1:45PM semifinal game against the winner of No. 2 seed Rochester John Marshall and No. 6 Rochester Mayo. Lakeville North hosts No. 8 Rochester Century Wednesday night. No. 5 Farmington plays at No. 4 Lakeville South.