It’s been a wild ride for Prior Lake.

Facing uncertainty about its lineup until practice started in November, sky-high expectations for the Lakers were met with an uninspired start. They collected just three wins in their first 10 games, with the low point being a humbling 0-4-0 stretch against some of the state’s premier programs over the holidays.

Fast forward to Thursday, when Prior Lake will be making its first-ever state tournament appearance after cruising through the Section 2AA field. The Lakers have won 14 of 17 games and their top line — arguably the best in the state — is rolling.

The self-titled Payback Tour (Prior Lake has won five rematches against teams it lost against earlier in the season) now moves to the Xcel Energy Center, where the Lakers figure to be as dangerous as any underdog the big-school tourney has seen in recent memory.