Why Hopkins will win: The Royals don't actually have eight players on the floor at one time. It only seems like they do. Their relentless ball pressure rattles opponents and forces mistake after mistake. Offensively, their weapons on offense are so varied that it's nearly impossible to shut them all down.
Why Eastview will win: The Lightning is perhaps the only team in the metro capable of handling Hopkins' pressure. Guard Madi Guebert is strong with the ball and can break down pressure by herself. Forwards Sam Trammel and Rachel Ranke form a terrific inside-outside scoring tandem,
Keys to watch: Guebert's ability to get Eastview into its offense and control the tempo. It's a given that Hopkins will create turnovers. Eastview must remain composed and not get flustered. When the Royals get rolling, they're unbeatable.
Did you know? Each team has just one loss this season, at the hands of the other. Eastview won 75-70 in overtime on Dec. 6; Hopkins won 68-55 on Dec. 31.
JIM PAULSEN
