Game of the Week: Woodbury boys basketball season opener

GAME OF THE WEEK

Who: Woodbury boys basketball

What: Season opener vs. Buffalo

Where: Minnetonka High School

When: Saturday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m.

On Saturday, the Woodbury boys basketball team makes its highly anticipated return to the hardwood.

Fresh off a Section 4AAAA championship and state tournament appearance, the Royals start the season at the invite-only Breakdown USA Tip-Off Classic, played Dec. 8 at Minnetonka High School, against Buffalo.

Buffalo’s Nick Guida and Woodbury’s Scott Swansson are two of the most highly regarded coaches in the metro and both bring senior-led rosters to the table. An exciting game between a Suburban East Conference power and a Mississippi 8 standout is expected.

Woodbury, which went 24-6 a year ago, is led by senior guard Renard Suggs, a 6-foot 3-inch guard who averaged 13.4 points per game last season, and fellow 2012 starter Robert Claypool, who averaged 6.7 points per game in 2011-12. Other key players for the Royals include guard Diallo Powell, forward Mario Franco and guard Matt Ambriz.

Swansson, the reigning Class AAAA Coach of the Year, has said that Woodbury fans should expect to see a modified version of last year’s offense this year – one predicated on spreading the floor to create open three-point opportunities and drives to the hole.

“Win or lose, we’ll be fun to watch,” he said.

Buffalo, which is 1-1 to start the year, returns four starters from last year’s 17-10 team: Ethan Freer, Peter Cassady, Jason Senger and Jackson Schepp. Freer, a 6-foot 2-inch guard, leads the team at 16 points per game this season, followed by Senger (14 points) and Schepp (11 points).

Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. at the Minnetonka West gym.

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