Class 4A championship
No. 1 seed Eastview (30-1) vs. No. 3 Bloomington Kennedy (25-6), 8 p.m., Williams Arena
Why Eastview will win: A one-loss season reflects a Lightning team on a mission. Two difficult state tournament games tested Eastview and the team rallied each time. Eden Prairie tried taking away guard Madison Guebert (22 points per game) with a press defense and three of the Lightning's starters stepped up to replace her by surpassing their season scoring averages.
Why Kennedy will win: As the only team to beat Eastview this season, the Eagles will not be intimidated. They are hungry, having lost in the championship game last year. They want to disrupt the timing of Eastview's precision offense and use a size advantage to make the Lightning labor on the defensive end. Kenisha Bell drives the Kennedy offense.
The quote: "They want us, and we want them," Kennedy coach Quintin Johnson said. "It's the best rivalry in the state as far as I'm concerned."
DAVID LA VAQUE
