To the South Suburban for Shakopee, too?

First it was Prior Lake, followed by Farmington. Is Shakopee next?

Shakopee is looking to become the third Missota Conference school to switch to the South Suburban Conference since the start of the 2010-11 school year. It was given permission by its school board to apply to the conference, and has done so, according to activities director John Janke.

The schools hopes to hear back "by the end of the school year," Janke said. "To use a sports analogy, the ball is in their court."

Farmington recently was approved by league members to join the conference for the 2014-15 school year. It awaits approval from its school board later this month.

Janke is hopeful his school district can follow the same timetable as that of Farmington. Shakopee would have to give a year's notice to leave the Missota Conference under the league's bylaws.

"I've been through this more than once at other schools," Janke said. "It eases some of the challenges having been through this situation before."

Eastview scoring kicks inThe Eastview boys' hockey team had trouble scoring prior to the holiday break. Its offense gained some confidence in winning the Class AA bracket of the Rochester Kiwanis tournament.

Senior Nick Abbott, a 5-7 forward, came up big offensively in Rochester. He had three goals, all short-handed, in a 7-2 victory over Rochester Mayo in the championship game, and six assists in the three victories. He had three goals and two assists in the first nine games.

The Lightning (8-5-0) scored 18 goals in its three tournament games after only netting 24 in the first nine games of the season.

Top performances• Junior Michael Gorder is one of the reasons for Eagan's boys' basketball early season success. The 6-5 guard scored a season-best 36 points in a tough 83-81 setback at the hands of Class 4A, No. 10 Lakeville North last week. It was his third game of the season with at least 25 points. The Wildcats are 5-2 through their first seven games.

• Apple Valley senior goaltender Hailey Sampson turned in her best performance of the season in a 2-1 victory over Burnsville in South Suburban girls' hockey action. Sampson made 35 saves, including 23 in the third period.