Hot at the right time

White Bear Lake has had its ups and downs this year, but one big confidence-building win over conference leader and section rival Roseville has helped shift the Bears into upset mode as the boys' basketball season shifts into playoff mode.

"It's exactly what we needed," head coach Keith Lockwood said.

Earlier this season on the road against Roseville, the Bears didn't show up to play for the first nine minutes, Lockwood said.

"It was all Roseville and none of us," Lockwood said. "Kids were excited to get another shot at them, especially back at our place."

The players stuck to the game plan, slowed down the Raiders and came out with a 69-66 victory. The following game, White Bear Lake held Hastings to just 28 points in a lopsided win.

White Bear Lake is confident, healthy and playing strong team defense. And someone's going to score -- it's just a question of who.

"I really couldn't tell you where the scoring's going to come each night. It's been just one or two kids get hot and the rest put in their average amount of points," Lockwood said. "There's no real clear-cut all-star. It's just a bunch of kids, and when they play hard and play together they do really well."

The 6-foot point guard is one of the team's leading scorers, averaging more than 13 points per game. Jostling with Sheldon for the team lead in points is junior Zach Meyer, who's also averaging about 13 points per game. The 6-5 center is a tough matchup for many teams, and the Bears focus their offense on feeding him the ball in the post.

"I'm a little undersized, so I kind of like to bump around and use that to my advantage as best as I can," Meyer said.

As a credit to Meyer, teams have started being more physical and aggressive with him, which helps open up options for White Bear Lake's guards. But defense will be key for any White Bear Lake postseason success. The Bears' biggest weapon? Senior Vidal Vance.

Vance has been White Bear Lake's defensive stopper for three years against some of the best players in state. He also averages more than eight points per game.

"He's invaluable, if you ask me," Lockwood said. "It's going to be hard to replace him next year."

Tartan, Roseville and Cretin-Derham Hall -- teams the Bears lost to by only one point this season -- all represent tough challenges in the section playoffs, but it's nothing White Bear Lake feels it can't handle.