It's going to be a tall task to top the last meeting between the Helias Crusaders and the Oxford (Miss.) Chargers.
"We've had some really memorable first-round games, but that one from three years ago is definitely at the top of the list," Helias coach Joe Rothweiler said.
Oxford's Jarkel Joiner finished that game with 40 points, but Helias' Landon Harrison scored a Joe Machens Great 8 Classic single-game record of 44 points, leading the Crusaders to an 88-80 win in 2016.
The two teams will face each other again in the first round of this year's Classic at 5:30 p.m. today at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"They like to play some zone on defense, and they use their length and athleticism to try and keep you out of the paint," Rothweiler said. "We're going to have to move it from side to side and be ready to knock down some 3s."
Oxford posted a 25-7 record last year, advancing to the Mississippi Class 6A state quarterfinals before losing to Starkville, the eventual state champion.
The Chargers enter the Classic with a 9-5 record and began their season Nov. 2.
"They've had some more time to build up chemistry, but at the same time, we're in a good spot with that as well," Rothweiler said. "We've had more time in practice to get going and figure out exactly how we want to play."
Oxford is led by Kylan Blackmon, a 6-foot-3 senior guard who averaged 32.3 points per game earlier this month in the Quaker Classic at Washington, D.C. He broke that tournament's single-game scoring record with 40 points Dec. 8 in a 73-62 win against KIPP College Prep.
"He's going to be tough to deal with," Rothweiler said. "We'll have to really find him in transition."
Tykel Owens, a 6-1 senior guard, scored a career-high 41 points last month in an 89-79 win against Calhoun City.
Another key player for Oxford is JJ Pegues, a 6-3, 270-pound senior that led the Chargers to a football state championship earlier this month. Pegues, a four-star tight end, signed earlier this month to play football at Auburn. He had 11 points against Helias in 2016.
"He's going to be a nightmare matchup," Rothweiler said.
Helias enters the Classic with a 4-1 record, coming off a 60-40 win last Saturday against Sedalia Smith-Cotton in the W-K Shootout at State Fair Community College.
Marcus Anthony leads the Crusaders with 19 points per game after missing almost his entire junior season due to a knee injury.
"If we have him last year, I think we have a chance to make a good run," Rothweiler said. "He has so many easy baskets for us. He rebounds the ball well. He's a nightmare to guard in transition."
Anthony has scored in double figures in all five games. Desmond White, Jeff Szumigala, Isaac Johnson, Damon Johanns and Colby LeCuru have each scored at least 10 points in a game this season.
"Our JV team was very solid last year, and they played very well together," Rothweiler said. "I worried a little bit about them being able to transition and play with the other guys on the varsity team last year. It's worked out great, and our chemistry is one of the best years of chemistry I've seen out of our program."
Helias will play either Father Tolton or Upper Arlington of Ohio on Saturday.
"Win or lose in the first round, our second-round game is going to be just as tough," Rothweiler said. "This tournament is probably as balanced and as strong as I've seen it in several years."
Other potential opponents on the opposite side of the bracket are the Blair Oaks Falcons and the Jefferson City Jays, as well as Northmont of Ohio and Lausanne Collegiate of Tennessee. Helias will play one of those teams Sunday.
But for now, the Crusaders' focus is on Oxford, and advancing to the winner's bracket for the 10th time in the past 12 years.
"If we can control the tempo and play a high IQ game and keep them off the boards, I think we'll have a decent chance," Rothweiler said.