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10th annual Border Battle set for Saturday at Onalaska

01/28/2016, 9:30am CST
By Mark Miller

Kobe King

The 10th annual Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle is scheduled for Saturday at Onalaska High School and it features some of the top teams and individual players from the two neighboring states.

Seven of the 12 teams taking part in the event are currently ranked among the elite teams in their respective divisions in either Wisconsin or Minnesota, including top-ranked Stevens Point (Division 1), Minneapolis DeLaSalle (Class 3A) and Minneapolis North (Class 1A).

Action gets underway at 11 am with unbeaten Marshfield Columbus Catholic (13-0) taking on once-beaten Spring Grove (16-1). 

The Dons are ranked No. 3 among WIAA Division 5 schools in Wisconsin while Spring Grove checks in at No. 2 among Class 1A schools in Minnesota. 

Coulee Conference title-contender Westby (11-3) meets Lake City (16-3) at 12:45 p.m. Lake City is currently ranked No. 4 in Class 2A. 

Eau Claire Memorial (10-3) tangles with Tartan (14-4) at 2:30 p.m. followed by La Crosse Central (12-2) playing DeLaSalle (11-3) at 4:15 p.m.

La Crosse Central leads the Mississippi Valley Conference and features University of Wisconsin recruit Kobe King (6-4), a junior wing player who is averaging more than 26 points per game.

DeLaSalle is the four-time defending Class 3A state champion and features a pair of NCAA Division I prospects in junior Goanar Mar (6-7) and sophomore Gabe Kalscheur (6-3). 

Onalaska (11-3) squares off against Minneapolis North (16-4) at 6:00 p.m. with unbeaten Stevens Point (15-0) playing Minnetonka (13-6) at 7:45 p.m. 

Stevens Point boasts three NCAA Division I players in seniors Trev Anderson (Green Bay) and Sam Hauser (Marquette) along with sophomore Joey Hauser (6-7), who already owns offers from both Marquette and Wisconsin.

Minnetonka is led by North Dakota State recruit Seth Coatta (6-3) along with high-scoring senior guard Amar Miller (5-9), who is averaging 23.3 ppg.

Admission for the Border Battle is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Admission is good for all six games of the event, which is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook and Breakdown Sports.

Minnesota leads the all-time series against Wisconsin, 29-22.

Following are capsules for each of the 12 teams taking part in the Border Battle:

WISCONSIN TEAMS 

Columbus Catholic Dons (Marshfield)
Coach:
Joe Konieczny, 11th year
Enrollment: 140
Top Players: Evan Nikolai (6-2, Sr., 15.3 ppg), Hunter Schultz (6-0, Jr., 19.5 ppg), Tyler Fuerlinger (6-1, Jr., 16.7 ppg), Nick Malovhr (5-10, Soph., 13.0 ppg), Billy Young (6-2, Sr., 5.1 ppg), Matthias Gouin (6-0, Sr., 4.8 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 13-0 (Through Jan. 26)
Notes: Columbus Catholic finished 15-9 last season, including 13-3 in the Eastern Division of the Cloverbelt Conference ... The Dons are ranked No. 3 among WIAA Division 5 teams in the WisSports.net Coaches poll ... Nikolai, Schultz and Fuerlinger all are two-year starters for coach Joe Konieczny ... Columbus Catholic is not a tall team, but the Dons are very quick and like to play an up-tempo style.
Coach's Comments: "Quickness, depth and ball handling are strengths. Lack of size and rebounding are our biggest concerns."

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Westby Norsemen
Coach:
Bob Constalie, 26th year
Enrollment: 349
Top Players: Jesse Solberg (6-3, Jr., 17.8 ppg), Ross Stalsberg (6-7, Sr., 10.2 ppg), Travis Hofslien (6-2, Sr., 8.7 ppg), Shane Gran (6-1, Sr., 9.8 ppg), Nick Meyers (6-2, Sr., 3.3 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 11-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: Westby competes in the Coulee Conference and is battling Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau and Arcadia for the league championship ... Coach Bob Constalie has won more than 400 games during his long coaching career ... Junior wing Jesse Solberg is enjoying a breakout season and can score from the perimeter and off the dribble.
Coach's Comments: "Experience, tradition, attitude and depth are strengths while quickness and defensive toughness are concerns."

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Eau Claire Memorial Old Abes
Coach:
Greg Van Grunsven, 9th year
Enrollment: 1,696
Top Players: Isaac Appleby (6-2, Sr., 19.9 ppg), Darian Dieckman (6-0, Sr., 8.3 ppg), Cormac Sampson (6-4, Soph., 7.9 ppg), Reece Meier (6-3, Jr., 8.1 ppg), Storm Standiford (6-4, Sr., 5.7 ppg), Karl Buttel (6-6, Sr., 4.7 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 10-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: Appleby and Buttel are returning starters from a squad that finished 13-10 a year ago ... Appleby is one of the top backcourt players in Wisconsin and is receiving recruiting interest from a number of NCAA Division II schools ... Appleby earned second-team all-Big Rivers Conference laurels as a junior ... The Old Abes lost to La Crosse Central, another Border Battle team representing Wisconsin, 61-50 in mid-December.
Coach's Comments: "Overall quickness and size are our strengths. We entered the season with a lack of varsity experience outside of Appleby and Buttel."

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La Crosse Central Red Raiders
Coach:
Todd Fergot, 12th year
Enrollment: 1,066
Top Players: Kobe King (6-4, Jr., 26.5 ppg), Bailey Kale (6-0, Jr., 16.2 ppg), Noah Parcher (6-0, Frosh., 7.2 ppg), Aiden Austen (6-0, Sr., 5.8 ppg), Isaiah Dahlman (6-1, Jr., 7.4 ppg), Mitchell Lash (6-3, Jr., 3.9 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 12-2 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Red Raiders are ranked No. 7 among WIAA Division 2 schools in the WisSports.net Coaches poll ... King has committed to the University of Wisconsin and is the top-ranked class of 2017 prospect in the state in the player rankings on WisSports.net ... King and Kale are both three-year varsity performers for coach Todd Fergot and form one of the elite backcourt duos in the state. 
Coach's Comments: "Ball handling, shooting and experience are among our strengths while lack of size at some positions is a concern."

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Onalaska Hilltoppers
Coach:
Craig Kowal, 8th year
Enrollment: 897
Top Players: Jalen Zubich (5-10, Jr., 17.5 ppg), Noah Fredrickson (5-10, Jr., 13.4 ppg), Jalen Sample (6-4, Jr., 9.2 ppg), Tyler Turriff (6-2, Jr., 8.5 ppg) Noah Skifton (6-0, Soph., 7.1 ppg), Alex Olson (6-3, Sr., 5.9 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 11-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Hilltoppers play sound team defense and move the ball well on offense ... Coach Craig Kowal, who guided Onalaska to the WIAA Division 2 state title in 2012, counts heavily Zubich, a three-year starter who competes with great basketball instincts while also scoring at a high level ... Sample has turned in a very strong junior season after growing several inches over the past 12 months.
Coach's Comments: "Perimeter shooting, ball handling and experience are strengths. This group is highly skilled and committed. We do lack size so reobunding is always a concern."

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Stevens Point Panthers
Coach:
Scott Anderson, 7th year
Enrollment: 2,078
Top Players: Trev Anderson (6-2, Sr., 26.8 ppg, 4.7 apg), Sam Hauser (6-6, Sr., 18.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Joey Hauser (6-7, Soph., 18.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Jamison Kryshak (5-11, Sr., 3.7 ppg), Jake Hofmeister (6-0, Sr., 3.4 ppg), Drew Blair (6-2, Soph., 4.3 ppg), Evan Mallek (6-3, Sr., 2.8 ppg). 
2015-16 Record: 15-0 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Panthers are ranked No. 1 among Division 1 schools in Wisconsin behind the stellar play of the state's top two senniors -- Trev Anderson and Sam Hauser ... Anderson has signed with Green Bay while Hauser is headed to Marquette ... Both players are four-year starters and clutch players for Stevens Point, which also features the state's top-ranked sophomore in 6-foot-7 forward Joey Hauser, the younger brother of Sam ... Stevens Point is the defending WIAA Division 1 state champion.
Coach's Comments: "Shooting, passing, ball security, defense, togetherness, experience and depth are strengths. Interior defense and rebounding are our concerns."

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MINNESOTA TEAMS

Spring Grove Lions
Coach:
Wade Grinde
Enrollment: 77
Top Players: Chase Grinde (6-3, Jr., 22.3 ppg), Alex Engelhardt (6-3, Sr., 10.9 ppg), Brock Schuttemeier (6-2, Jr., 9.8 ppg), Brady Schuttemeier (6-3, Sr., 9.8 ppg), Alex Folz (5-9, Frosh., 7.2 ppg). 
2015-16 Record: 16-1 (Through Jan. 26)
Notes: The Lions compete in the 11-team Southeast Conference and are ranked No. 2 among Class 1A schools in Minnesota ... The Lions lost a 69-66 decision to Lake Mills in the Tri-State Border Battle held January 9 at the Just A Game Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells.

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Lake City Tigers
Coach:
Greg Berge
Enrollment: 350
Top Players: Brady Kuchinka (5-11, Sr., 23.2 ppg), Marc Kjos (5-9, Soph., 10.4 ppg), Eli Custer (6-3, Sr., 9.0 ppg), Jesse Oliver (6-0, Sr., 8.4 ppg), Mitch Marien (5-8, Jr., 5.2 ppg), Matt Kjos (6-0, Sr., 3.8 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 16-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Tigers are ranked No. 4 among 2A schools in Minnesota and compete in the Gold Division of the Hiawatha Valley Conference.

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Tartan Titans
Coach:
Mark Klingsporn
Enrollment: 1,382
Top Players: Jordan Horn (6-2, Jr., 16.9 ppg), Joevon Walker (6-4, Jr., 11.3 ppg), Noah Whalen (6-3, Jr., 10.8 ppg), Elijah Johnson (6-4, Sr., 9.5 ppg), Jarvis Thomas (6-7, Soph., 9.3 ppg), Jordan Thompson (6-1, Jr., 7.3 ppg), Kingston Myles (6-2, Jr., 6.0 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 14-4 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Titans compete in the highly competitive Metro East Conference ... Horn is receiving NCAA Division I recruiting interest from North Dakota State and South Dakota State, among others.

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DeLaSalle Islanders
Coach:
Dave Thorson
Enrollment: 696
Top Players: Gabe Kalscheur (6-3, Soph., 20.5 ppg), Goanar Mar (6-7, Jr., 19.0 ppg), Sage Booker (6-0, Soph., 7.8 ppg), Sam Jones (6-0, Sr., 7.9 ppg), Christian Dickson (6-2, Soph., 5.6 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 11-3 (Through games of Jan. 25)
Notes: DeLaSalle has won the past four class 3A state championships in Minnesota and competes in the Tri-Metro West Conference ... The Islanders are ranked No. 1 among class 3A schools this season ... Mar is a three-start recruit on Scout.com and has interest from Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette, Minnesota and Wisconsin, among others ... Kalscheur is also receiving interest from several NCAA DI programs.

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Minneapolis North Polars
Coach:
Larry McKenzie
Enrollment: 199
Top Players: ODell Wilson IV (6-5, Soph., 13.6 ppg), Isaac Johnson (6-4, Jr., 13.7 ppg), Jamil Jackson (6-6, Sr., 14.4 ppg), Patrick Dembley (6-3, Sr., 14.6 ppg), Ahzerik Rodgers (6-1, Jr., 7.9 ppg), JaQuan Sanders-Smith (6-1, Jr., 8.9 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 16-4 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: Minneapolis North is ranked No. 1 among 1A schools in Minnesota and competes in the Minneapolis City Conference ... Minneapolis North lost to Hopkins, 98-96, on Jan. 19. Hopkins is the top-ranked Class 4A school in Minnesota. 

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Minnetonka Skippers
Coach:
Jerry Kline Jr.
Enrollment: 1,273
Top Players: Amar Miller (5-9, Sr., 23.4 ppg), Seth Coatta (6-3, Sr., 16.6 ppg), Max Cooper (6-5, Sr., 11.3 ppg), Cedric Boone (6-0, Sr., 12.9 ppg), Burt Hedstrom (6-3, Jr., 6.9 ppg), Matt Haas (6-4, Jr., 5.3 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 13-6 (Through games of Jan. 25)
Notes: Minnetonka is a 4A school that competes in the Lake Conference ... Coatta has committed to NCAA Division I North Dakota State.


​At Onalaska High School.
January 30, 2016

11:00 a.m. -- Marshfield Columbus Catholic (WI) vs. Spring Grove (MN)

12:45 p.m. -- Westby (WI) vs. Lake City (MN)

2:30 p.m. -- Eau Claire Memorial (WI) vs. Tartan (MN)

4:15 p.m. -- La Crosse Central (WI) vs. DeLaSalle (MN)

6:00 p.m. -- Onalaska (WI) vs. Minneapolis North (MN)

7:45 p.m. -- Stevens Point (WI) vs. Minnetonka (MN)

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