The Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team is going to have to control the ball when it plays Mountain Iron-Buhl in the Class A state quarterfinals in Mariucci Arena 5 p.m. Thursday.

The Rangers (28-2 overall) outscore their opponents 81.4 to 35 points per game and they provide a full court trapping defense that can turn close games into blowouts in a heartbeat.

“They’re an up tempo team that likes to play fast,” LP head coach Justin Morris said. “It’s kind of like how we played the last couple years in terms of trapping and pressing, and multiply it by ten. That’s what they are. Against 98 percent of the teams they play that works. The challenge for us is to keep our composure.”

MIB, which is playing in its fifth straight Class A state tournament, is led by a pair of sophomore guards in Chelsea Mason, who averages 22 points per game and Mya Buffetta. Morris said those two players have garnered a lot of attention around the state of Minnesota and he’s hoping the Athletics can slow them down.

The Rangers have a lot of state tournament experience, but they were knocked off in the first round the last two seasons. This is LP’s first ever trip to the state tournament and nerves could be an issue, especially early on.

“There’s no way you can simulate a state tournament,” Morris said. “With them being the higher seed and lost in the first round of the state tournament the last two years, there’s probably more pressure on them and we probably come in as the underdog. For one of the few times this year we’re going to come in with a not a lot of pressure on us.”

LP junior Sarah Holtz said the Athletics are starting to get over the shock of making it to the state tournament and they’re ready to focus on playing against the Rangers.

“We’re expecting a very fast paced game with a very tough press. They play a very similar style to us and it’s going to come down to who makes plays every possession,” Holtz said. “It’ll be very beneficial to slow the game down. When we get worked up we can take deep breath and run our offense.”

The Athletics had a JV team that went 19-0 this season and they’ll bring back much of their roster next season. But Morris does not want his team feeling complacent heading into Thursday’s game.

He wants them to know that nothing is a given as far as the future of the squad goes.

“You can’t take anything for granted and you have to take advantage of the opportunity that’s right in front of your face,” Morris said. “You can’t assume anything. There’s been several programs that have gone to a state tournament and thought they had good opportunities to go again, and never gone again.”

The winner of the LP-MIB game will take on the winner of Ada-Borup-Springfield 2 p.m. Friday at Williams Arena.