Prior to the game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, eight seniors – John Warren, Malcolm White, Nate Bailey, Gregg Warshaw, Wyatt Johnson, Graham Hutson, Parker Beak and Mamadou Ngom – walked onto the court with their parents in celebration of senior night. It was a sentimental start to a night which saw the Royals face Lake Conference foe Minnetonka.

Not only was the game against arch-rival Minnetonka, but it was a return to the Lindbergh Center for multiple ex-Royals who are now on the Skipper roster – Cedric Boone, Aaron Boone, and Amar Miller, juniors.

The Royals got off to a hot start early by sinking threes left and right to get up 17-12. Then Minnetonka hit their stride, taking a 36-33 lead at the half. For a slow-starting Royals team, it wasn’t a terrible start.

The second half was 18 minutes of high-octane offense and intense basketball. It had a playoff atmosphere to it. Both teams knew what was on the line.

For the Royals, a win would have clinched their 21st Lake Conference title in 25 years. A loss combined with an Eden Prairie win would mean a must-win game (in order to take the Lake) on Friday, Feb. 20th against those same Eagles.

Minnetonka, due to a rough January, is out of the hunt for the conference title but fighting for a good seed and momentum entering the section tournament.

Minnetonka started the second half with back-to-back three pointers. John Warren, senior countered with a layup and an alley-oop, eventually giving the Royals the lead.

Both teams shot the ball without hesitation, many beyond the three point line. This led to a frenetic pace, sloppy offense and many turnovers. Not the type of game we’re used to seeing from the Royals, who are now 20-5.

The Skippers, now 19-6, are used to the run-and-gun style of game and showed that they also have a plethora of guards that can knock down any shot.

In the end, a potential game-tying three pointer fell short at the buzzer and the Royals’ win streak of 16 games was snapped. The Royals may have been caught looking ahead to their showdown with Eden Prairie, which will now decide who will win the conference and likely be the top seed for sections.