After early setbacks to start the season, the Prior Lake boys basketball team has responded decisively, reeling off 11 consecutive wins and turned the opening weeks into one of the strongest stretches the program has seen in recent years.
The start of the season presented an early challenge for the Lakers, who dropped four of their first five games against a demanding schedule that included top-ranked opponents Wayzata and Totino-Grace.
Those early results came after a strong 2024–25 campaign with first-year head coach Brian Jungwirth in which the Lakers finished 22–7, advancing to the Section Championship game before falling to rival Shakopee and missing a trip to the state tournament. That team was led offensively by seniors Norbu Jenpa and Cade Wozney, both of whom graduated in the spring, opening opportunities on the varsity roster for new players to step into expanded roles this season.
The latest victory came Saturday night in a dramatic road test against the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders, the No. 4 team in the state according to the latest all-class rankings from Strib Varsity. Cretin-Derham Hall, led by senior Division I recruit Jojo Mitchell, carried a 43–35 lead after a fast-paced, high-scoring first half.
Prior Lake answered in the second half, erasing the deficit and tying the game at 74 at the end of regulation. The teams remained locked through two overtime periods. Each side scored five points in the first overtime, followed by an 11–11 tie in the second.
In the third overtime, Cretin-Derham Hall took a two-point lead late before Lakers junior captain and leading scorer Kolby Thompson delivered the decisive moment, knocking down a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure the one-point win and extend Prior Lake’s winning streak to 11 games.
Thompson led all scorers with 32 points, while junior Kobby Sam-Brew added 20 and senior Colten Gunderson contributed 19.
Dominating win over the Sabers
The Lakers definitely did not have a let down after the big Cretin win while hosting Shakopee on Jan. 27.
Prior Lake led 41-32 at the half, but took control in the second half, putting up 50 points while only allowing 25 for a 91-57 victory.
Thompson again led the way with 23 points. Junior guard Max DuBore also chipped in 15 points.
Up next
With the win, the Lakers now sit at 13–4 overall and hold first place in the South Suburban Conference with an undefeated 9-0 conference record. Also, they are now ranked fifth in the latest 4A Coaches Poll, the first time they’ve been ranked all year.
Prior Lake has 10 games remaining, all within conference play, before turning its focus once again to section competition. After coming up just short of a state tournament berth last season, the Lakers will face another challenging postseason path as they look to carry their momentum into March.
