Montevideo has nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking on a bigger opponent just 37 miles away.
The Thunder Hawks, rated No. 6 Class AA by Minnesota Basketball News, will play Willmar, rated No. 4 in Class AAA, for the first time in four years today. Playing a bigger school that is having a solid season will benefit the Thunder Hawks regardless of the outcome, helping them prepare for the demands of the post-season. A win could give them momentum and confidence the rest of the season.
But Montevideo isn't looking at the game as a tune-up for the playoffs. The Thunder Hawks are looking at nothing but trying to win. Especially in front of their hometown fans.
"We're excited about playing Willmar," said Montevideo senior guard Tyler Grey, a first team All-Area pick last year. "It's a chance to play one of the better teams and we're hoping it will make us better."
Montevideo brings a 16-2 record and a five-game winning streak into the game. The Thunder Hawks, one of the top three-point shooting teams in the area, average 89 points-per-game. The two losses came against Class AA No. 4 New London-Spicer and Hopkins, the top-ranked team in Class AAAA.
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"We don't have anything to lose by playing Willmar," said Grey, who is averaging a team-high 19 points-per-game this season and is third in the area in three-pointers made with 46. "But we're going into the game with the mindset that we can win. Especially at home. We want to go the entire season without losing at home."
Willmar, on the other hand, wants to keep its momentum going and a loss to a smaller school would be a letdown to an otherwise stellar season. The Cardinals lead the Central Lakes Conference with a perfect 10-0 mark and are 12-3 overall.
Montevideo lost to Willmar in the last meeting between the two, 52-34 on Feb. 10, 2004 in Montevideo. The last time Montevideo beat the Cardinals was in 1976, a 63-45 win. But Willmar was won the last 12 meetings.
"We played Willmar a few times when we were playing traveling basketball in sixth and seventh grade," said Grey. "So we know the players on their team. And we follow the team in the paper and know who we need to stop."
Grey said Willmar's size advantage will post problems for the Thunder Hawks.
"We have to do a good job of boxing out because of their height," he said. "We have to play good defense. It always starts with defense. We have to try to control the boards and then get out and run."
Montevideo senior guard Tramel Barnes is one of the top playmakers in the area. He had five 3-pointers among his 21 points in his last game against BOLD. Several times this season, he's had double-digit assists.
Willmar's top scorer is Casey Sussenguth, a 6-6 senior forward, who averages 20 points-per-game. Jordan Smith, a 6-3 junior forward, averages 13.9 ppg and has 35 three-pointers.
