By Travis Hines, FloHoops Contributor

MINNETONKA, MN — It’s the backstory that makes superhero team-ups so satisfying. The history of conflict before the decision to work together makes the whole construct interesting.

Superman and Batman. Brother Mouzone and Omar. Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw. Adam Banks and the Mighty Ducks.

Former conflict makes the future coalition that much sweeter. And in the event of genuine animosity, some friendly competition will work just fine, too.

That’s what was on display Saturday at the Breakdown USA Tip Off Classic when Cretin-Derham Hall’s Daniel Oturu and Orono’s Jarvis Omersa squared off as adversaries a few months before becoming teammates at the University of Minnesota.

It was one Oturu's Raiders ultimately prevailed in, toppling the Spartans 77-76 in a closely contested tilt among two of the state’s best teams and certainly two of its best big men inside the Lindbergh Center.

“I think it was probably one of the best games anyone will see all year in the state of Minnesota,” Omersa said.

Oturu, the 2018 Flo40 No. 25 prospect, and Omersa, who was previously known as Jarvis Thomas, guarded each other for nearly the entire night, going back and forth with each notching wins and losses against the other.

“I just kept playing,” Oturu said, “thinking about my team and not really necessarily about the matchup but getting the 'W.'”

Still, the tête-à-tête provided some riveting basketball and a glimpse into the home-grown future of coach Richard Pitino’s program in Dinkytown.

Oturu and Cretin Derham-Hall got the better of the matchup early with the 6-foot-9 Oturu posting 10 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, as the No. 16 Raiders built a lead that reached as many as 10 points.

In the second half, though, Omersa really came alive, exerting his will by getting to the rim and suddenly taking the mantle from Oturu as the best player on the floor.

“I kind of spread it out a little bit more, started taking (Oturu) off the dribble,” Omersa said. “Obviously, I’m a little quicker with the first step than he is, and he’s a little longer than me.

“I was just like, ‘Let’s spread it out and go to work.’”

Omersa’s quickness and skill was on deft display late in the second half when he took Oturo off the bounce, spun toward the left of the rim, and then came back to his right to finish with his right, using the rim as protection from the shot-swatting Oturu.

“I figured once I spun to the left side that either Sy (Chatman) or Daniel were going to try to block it with the left hand,” Omersa said. “So I just kind of went up and under.”

Omersa’s concern about Oturu’s shot-blocking prowess was well founded. Oturu’s ability to turn shots away very well may have saved the game for Cretin-Derham Hall.

The Raiders looked well on their way to victory with a six-point lead and under a minute on the clock, but Orono’s Colton Codute connected on a 3-pointer and was fouled, making for a four-point play and a two-point Cretin-Derham Hall advantage with 49 seconds to play.

The Spartans put CDH on the line on the next possession, but the Raiders were only able to convert one.

Orono made its way down the floor in search of a quick two to extend the game, and it looked to have just that as a Spartans player penetrated into the lane for what appeared to be an easy layup. However, Oturu launched from the other side of the lane to block the shot and preserve the Raiders lead.

“I knew he was going to drive,” Oturu said. “His tendency was to go right the whole game. I knew he wasn’t looking to pass it, so when he gave that quick hesitation (move), I acted like I didn’t see it, but I had to recover quick to make the play.”

Not only did Oturu stop the shot, he kept possession of the ball by grabbing it rather than blasting it into the stands.

“I pinned it on the glass so I could grab it quickly,” he added.

Oturu was fouled after the block, and he sealed the game at the free-throw line.

"Thankfully helped my team out to win,” Oturu continued.

Oturu finished the game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocks, while Omersa had 19 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and a block.

“I love playing against anybody good,” Oturu said. “That brings out the best in me, especially somebody like him, my future teammate.”

Two rivals, bringing out the best in each other, soon to team up. Sounds like a familiar trope.

“The battle was fun,” Omersa said.

Joining forces could be even better.