If it's the end of January in Minnesota, it means one thing. And no, it doesn’t revolve around the freezing cold weather. Instead, it means the state is in the middle of another exciting season of high school basketball. Here is a look at some key players, teams and other developments across the state. 
Taylor Grant, Eden Prairie
File photo by Clarence Thomas
THE STARTING FIVE
1. LAKE CONFERENCE CLASH: Eden Prairie showed why it's the top-ranked team in Class 4A Thursday, defeating No. 8-ranked Rosemount 49-40 in a defensive struggle. Brett Ervin led Eden Prairie with 19 points, while Rosemount was led by Zach Vraa (13 points) and Brandon Wolf (10 points). Rosemount (7-3 Lake Conference, 10-4 overall) could have pulled within one game of the first-place Eagles (10-0, 14-0) with a win, but the Eagles defense was again too much. Eden Prairie is giving up just over 50 points a game and has the best defense, statistically, in the conference.
2. THOMAS TOO TOUGH TO STOP: Columbia Heights' Jacob Thomas has had an impressive three-game stretch. On Jan. 12 he scored 23 points in an 87-79 win over Spring Lake Park. On Jan. 15, he scored 47 points in a 86-74 loss to Benilde-St. Margaret's. On Tuesday, Thomas scored 26 points in an 84-62 win over Fridley. Thomas is fourth in the state in scoring at 26.6 points per game and a big reason the Hylanders are ranked No. 8 in the state in Class 3A.
3. ORONO WIN STREAK CONTINUES: The Orono Spartans are ranked No. 6 in the state in Class 3A, and improved to 11-3 with an 85-43 win over Delano on Thursday evening. It was the seventh straight win for Orono, which was led by Jordan Smith's 27 points. Smith was one of four players in double figures. Kyle Mileusnic scored 12, while Brady Wohler and Jeremy Borg scored 11 points each. Smith leads the team in scoring at 21.2 points per game, while Borg is averaging 11.4.
4. SUBURBAN EAST SHOWDOWN TUESDAY: Heading into action Friday, Cretin-Derham Hall and Stillwater were tied for first place in the Suburban East Conference at 5-1. Both teams were also 11-2, with Cretin ranked No. 5 in the state in 4A, and Stillwater No. 6. Cretin is led by big man Seantrel Henderson, the same Henderson who is the nation's top-ranked high school football player, who leads the team with 13.6 points per game.
Henderson has only played eight games due to football-related commitments. Raijon Kelly has scored 172 points through 13 games, for a 13.2 points-per-game average, and has scored the most points on the team. A trio of talented sophomores have also contributed for Cretin. Cortez Tillman is averaging 10.3 points per game, C.J. Neuman nine and Taylor Montero eight for the Raiders. Alex Oman leads Stillwater at 16.5 points per game, while Ryan Duxbury averages 12.5 and Paul Franklin 11.6 for the Ponies. Freshman Andrew Duxbury is averaging 8.4 points per game for Stillwater.
5. SIBLEY OVER MINNETONKA: In a battle of traditional 4A powers, Sibley defeated Minnetonka 79-68 in a non-conference clash. Sibley was led by Mike Rostampour with 28 points and Jordan Jackson, who had 23. Jimmy Ryan added 10 points and Jake Kreuser nine for the Warriors, who improved to 8-6 with the win. Despite the 8-6 record, the Warriors have faced tough non-conference opponents and are still in contention for the Classic Suburban Conference title, battling teams such as St. Thomas Academy and Tartan for conference supremacy.
THREE TO WATCH
1. Zach Konerza, Hill City: Konerza went over 1,000 points for his career when he scored 27 points in a 68-63 win over Albrook on Friday.
2. Caledonia: The Warriors ended a two-game losing streak with a 90-62 win over Lewiston-Altura on Thursday. The win helped Caledonia improve to 10-4. The high-scoring Warriors were led by Ethan Lapham's 24 points. Lapham was one of five Caledonia players in double figures. The others were Lucas Lampert (12), Ivan Augedahl (11), Cody Haugstad (11) and Isaac Fruechte (11).
3. Kevin Noreen: Minnesota Transitions: The state's leading scorer at 34.4 points per game is closing in on the state's all-time career scoring record. Noreen could achieve the feat in late January or early February. Stay tuned, and look for a feature on Noreen next week.
TWO HOT TOO HANDLE
1. New London Spicer: New-London Spicer is the top-ranked team in Class 2A, and improved to 14-1 with a 100-62 win over Atwater-Cosmos Grove City on Monday. It was the first time NLS reached 100 points this season, after scoring 99 in a win against Paynesville on Dec. 8 and 97 against Fond du Lack Ojibwe on Dec. 26.
2. Aaron Lukitsch, Coon Rapids: Lukitsch averaged 5.8 points per game before he erupted for 34 in a 85-80 overtime win over Champlin Park. Lukitsch made 6 of 7 three-pointers in the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
107 - The number of assists by Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones, which leads the state. Jones is an eighth-grader who is also averaging 14.8 points per game.
25.6 - The per-game scoring average of Apple Valley junior Tom Schalk, who leads the same Apple Valley team Jones plays on. The 1-2 punch is one of the best in the Lake Conference.
30 - The number of points Shelby Moats of Waconia scored in a 58-52 win over Shakopee. The 6-foot-8 Moats had 66 points in three games last week.
3 - The number of points Grand Rapids, ranked No. 7 in the state in 3A, defeated Duluth East by in a 73-70 win Thursday.
3 - The number of consecutive losses for Duluth East. The Greyhounds have dropped to 9-7 on the season with the losing streak.
