Both teams feature good balance, with senior players such as 6-foot-4 Landon Fischbach of Northwestern and 6-foot-2 Lane Myer of Ipswich drawing plenty of attention from opponents. What gives this conference game some extra spice is that Myer played for Northwestern last season.
"Landon is consistent down low, and usually a double-double kid," Northwestern coach Chris Osborn said of Fischbach.
Ipswich coach Scott Heyne said having Myer on his squad is a plus. "He's a good player and gives us an advantage," Heyne said. "He handles the ball a lot for us, and he is the big guy, and is expected to dominate the block."
Heyne added, "(Landon) Fischbach is a big kid and a good player. They have some size, three or four guys that are six foot. They (cause) some match up problems, because after our center, we are not very big."
Good shot selection and getting out to a good start will be crucial for Ipswich to have success, Heyne noted. "We can't get into panic mode."
Osborn knows his team is in for a battle as well. He expects to see some pressure defense from Ipswich and said it will be important for his Wildcats to keep turnovers to a minimum.
"We need to control the ball and hit the shots when we do get them," Osborn said. "And when we can, we like to get into transition. And we have to convert those."
After a rough start to the season, Heyne said his Tigers are playing better game by game with everyone doing their part.
"All five starters have pretty important roles," said Heyne. "Myer has been doing well (18 points and 10 rebounds per game) at the post. Cassius Pond is another post and has been coming on as of late, especially on the boards. Brady Thares is a shooting guard, and Logan Secker is a good ball-handler. Dustin Northrop has been giving us energy this whole season."
Osborn feels his Wildcats have yet to hit full stride.
"As a coaching staff, we feel we are getting better," Osborn said. "There is still a little inconsistency and a few lapses that we are trying to clean up."
The Wildcats feature good size with Fischbach and 6-foot-4 junior Nate Palmer.
"We're not the speedy type and not overly quick, so we really have to control the other team's quickness," Osborn said. "We have to hit an outside shot to loosen up the inside a little bit."
The athletes on these teams know each other well from football and Osborn feels the schools have developed a friendly rivalry. Both coaches feel Friday's game should be fun to watch.
"We kind of stole one on their court last year," Heyne said. "There's no looking past this one. We'd like to piece together a few good games in a row and see where it takes us."
Osborn agreed that the atmosphere should be a good one with two teams eager to show what they can do.
"It should be fun," Osborn said. "We have games marked (before the season) and the kids have this one marked as one they would like to take home."
Game of the Week
At stake: A boys' basketball win in the Lake Region Conference standings and over a rival.
Who: Northwestern (2-4 overall, 1-0 LRC) vs. Ipswich (3-4, 1-1).
When: 8 p.m. Friday (girls varsity at 6:30 p.m., junior varsity boys at 5:15 p.m., junior varsity girls at 4 p.m.)
Where: Ipswich gym.
Watch it live: The game will be live-streamed at aberdeennews.com/sports with Will Elkins of the American News providing commentary beginning with a pre-game show 15 minutes before the game starts. Fans can Tweet scores and updates of the games they are watching with the hash tag, #ANscores, so they can be seen on AberdeenNews.com.
RECENT PAST GAMES
Jan. 13, 2012, at Mellette
Ipswich 62, Northwestern 57
Feb. 28, 2011, at Aberdeen
Ipswich 50, Northwestern 37
Jan. 13, 2011, at Ipswich
Northwestern 51, Ipswich 48
Jan. 14, 2010, at Mellette
Northwestern 55, Ipswich 30
Jan. 15, 2009, at Ipswich
Ipswich 77, Northwestern 40
Jan. 10, 2008, at Mellette
Ipswich 74, Northwestern 48
Jan. 11, 2007, at Ipswich
Ipswich 65, Northwestern 52
LRC BOYS' BASKETBALL
Team (Overall) W L
Warner (6-1) 2 0
Leola-Frederick (3-4) 1 0
Northwestern (2-4) 1 0
Ipswich (3-4) 1 1
Langford Area (4-1) 0 1
Faulkton (2-6) 0 1
Aberdeen Christian (5-3) 0 2
TONIGHT
Summit at Aberdeen Christian
FRIDAY
Northwestern at Ipswich* (*LRC game)
Langford Area at Warner*
SATURDAY
Aberdeen Christian vs. Leola-Frederick at Leola*
Britton-Hecla at Langford Area
Miller at Northwestern
Sisseton vs. Warner at 5:30 p.m. at State Farm Shootout in Redfield
See all area boys'/girls' conferences in Scoreboard.