It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for some boys' basketball teams in the South Suburban Conference. Don't tell that to Lakeville North and Lakeville South.
The two teams each knocked off opponents ranked in the top 10 in Class 4A on Friday night. Lakeville North upset No. 7 Edina 71-59 while Lakeville South upended No. 8 Wayzata 71-61.
"It was a good early-season win for us," Lakeville North coach John Oxton said. "Edina is a very, very good team. We have to remember, though, it's still very early in the season."
The league already has the preseason No. 1-rated team in Apple Valley. Add Prior Lake and Eastview into the fray, and the conference looks very deep once again.
"The South Suburban is good from top to bottom," Oxton said.
It also has some of the state's best talent, including Lakeville North's J.P. Macura. The 6-4 junior guard had 54 points, including 30 against Edina, and 12 rebounds in the Panthers' first two victories.
"How far he has come in the last nine months is amazing," Oxton said. "He is really growing as a player. He is by no means a finished product."
One coach hired ...Eagan has named Melissa Chmielewski as its new softball coach. She succeeds Courtney Dully, who resigned to spend more time with her family.
