The week ahead in prep sports

This being the first full week in January, it's only fitting that the biggest events on the prep sports landscape are take place outdoors, on snow: The Buck Hill Invitational Alpine Skiing meet Friday and the Mesabi Invitational Nordic Skiing meet Saturday. In addition, Thursday's schedule features matchups between defending state champions in girls' basketball (DeLa- Salle at Hopkins) and boys' hockey (Benilde-St. Margaret's at St. Thomas Academy). Here's a look at a few of the most meaningful high school events involving metropolitan area teams this week.

Tuesday: Henry Sibley at Tartan (Class 4A, No. 7), 7 p.m.

Thursday: Eden Prairie (4A, No. 6) at St. Paul Johnson, 7 p.m.; St. Paul Central at Edina, 7 p.m.

Friday: Eastview at Prior Lake (4A, No. 10), 7 p.m.

Tuesday: Red Wing (3A, No. 5) at New Prague (3A, No. 3), 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: DeLaSalle (3A, No. 2) at Hopkins (4A, No. 1), 7 p.m.

Friday: Richfield (3A, No. 6) at Tartan, 7 p.m.

Tuesday: Breck (1A, No. 4) vs. Totino-Grace (1A, No. 2), at Parade, 7 p.m.

Thursday: Benilde-St. Margaret's (2A, No. 5) at St. Thomas Academy (1A, No. 1), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Hill-Murray (2A, No. 2) at Wayzata (2A, No. 3), 7 p.m.

Tuesday: Edina (No. 7, 2A) at Minnetonka (No. 2, 2A), 7 p.m.; Hill-Murray (2A, No. 4) at Henry Sibley, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Roseville (2A, No. 6) at Mounds View (2A, No. 5), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Lakeville North Invitational. A 16-team affair with a remarkably strong field, led by 2012 state champions Roseville (Class 2A) and Melrose (1A), 9 a.m.

Saturday: Mesabi Invitational

Giants Ridge in Biwabik plays host to the nation's largest high school race. About 1,300 skiers from nearly 90 schools in Minnesota and nearby states are expected to compete in boys' and girls' races at the meet. The meet kicks off at 10 a.m.

Friday: Buck Hill Invitational.

The little hill with the big reputation (Lindsey Vonn, among others, got her start there) plays host to what has become the most important high school Alpine Skiing meet of the season. Nearly all of the top teams in the state, including Stillwater's boys and Minnetonka's girls, will compete. Meet begins at 9 a.m.