Quantcast
skip navigation

Border Battle: Anything you can do...

By Tim Kolehmainen, Breakdown Sports USA and Mark Miller, Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook, 01/25/11, 8:58AM CST

Share

Minnesota and Wisconsin go head-to-head in fifth annual Border Battle

11:30 a.m., Tartan vs. Seymour


Tartan's Drew Preiner

Tartan Titans (12-1, No. 4 in Class 4A)

Key Players: The Titans are led by the Preiner twins, Drew (13.4 ppg) and Luke (11.5 ppg) and quick sophomore guard Darrion Strong (10.2 ppg). The Preiners have good length at 6-foot-4, while Strong has a terrific first step and has already picked up a scholarship offer from Boise State.

Notable History: Tartan qualified for eight straight state tournaments from 1998-2005 and has 13 consecutive 20+ win seasons – and counting – under coach Mark Klingsporn.

Seymour Thunder (12-1, No. 4 in Division 2)

Key Players: Senior Phil Romback is a four-year starter who has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at NCAA Division II Michigan Tech. Senior Cal Skogman is a four-year starter who is receiving interest from a number of Division II programs in the Midwest. Skogman leads the team in scoring at 20.9 ppg while Romback adds 19.2 ppg.

Notable History: Coach Jon Murphy led the school to WIAA state championships in 1997, 2001 and 2006.

 

1:15 p.m., Rocori vs. Manitowoc Roncalli


Rocori's Nate Meyer

 
Rocori Spartans (11-4)

Key Players: Two of the top scorers in the Central Lakes Conference wear the red and white striped warm-ups of Rocori, Jonah Eisenschenk (22.2 ppg) and Nathan Meyer (17.0 ppg). Eisenschenk is just a sophomore, but has terrific leaping ability that allows him to score in traffic. Meyer, a junior, is a crafty all-around player with a great eye for the open man.

Notable History: Coach Bob Brink has been at the school for 41 years, qualifying for 12 state tournaments and winning one title (1988) and finishing second once (1999). Including his eight years in South Dakota, Brink has a 912-309 career coaching record.

Manitowoc Roncalli Jets (12-1, No. 5 in Division 3)
 

Key Players: Senior Ben Stelzer is a four-year starter who has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at NCAA Division II Michigan Tech. Stelzer is an outstanding long-distance shooter who currently leads Roncalli in scoring at 24.6 ppg. Senior Mike Gresl is also an outstanding perimeter shooter and is averaging 13.3 ppg.

Notable History: Roncalli has qualified for the WIAA State Tournament four times under coach Joe Rux.

3 p.m., St. Cloud Cathedral vs. La Crosse Aquinas


Cathedral's Joseph Burt

St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (8-6)

Key Players: A trio of juniors have the Crusaders on the upswing again: Joseph Burt (17.5 ppg), Bjorn Bjorklund (14.0 ppg) and Scottie Rucks (10.5 ppg). Burt is a take-charge kind of player who has the full confidence of his teammates and coaches. His backcourt mate, Bjorklund, can also drop double-digits on anybody while Rucks is an athletic forward.

Notable History: Cathedral made back-to-back state tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000, the only two in school history.

La Crosse Aquinas Blugolds (10-1, No. 1 in Division 3)

Key Players: Sophomore Bronson Koenig is the No. 1-ranked class of 2013 prospect in Wisconsin in the WisSports.net Player Rankings. He already has scholarship offers from both Marquette and Wisconsin, and is also receiving strong interest from North Carolina and UCLA, among many others. Koenig leads Aquinas in scoring at 16.1 ppg. Sophomore Michael Conway, junior Quinn McCartney and seniors Jimmy Ancius and Evan Pederson are also key players for the Blugolds.

Notable History: Aquinas won WIAA state championships in 2003 and 2008 and finished second in 2007 and 2009. Iowa State sharpshooter Scott Christopherson is a 2007 graduate of Aquinas.

 

4:45 p.m., Hopkins vs. Madison East


Hopkins' Joe Coleman

Hopkins Royals (14-0, No. 1 in Class 4A)

Key Players: Joe Coleman (23.7 ppg), Marvin Singleton (17.2 ppg) and Siyani Chambers (12.2 ppg) make up the “Big Three” for the two-time defending state champions. But don’t count out the contributions of the rest of the Royals, including Zach Stahl (10.4 ppg). Coleman, the younger brother of former Minnesota Gopher Dan Coleman, is a clear favorite for the Mr. Basketball award and has already committed to the Gophers. He’s explosive and strong, which also describes the rugged Singleton, who signed with Northern Iowa. Chambers is just a junior, but directs the Royals’ show as the point guard and already has a scholarship offer from Nebraska.

Notable History: Hopkins has made 19 trips to the state tournament and won six titles, including each of the last four times they’ve been to the big dance (2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010). The Royals are also ranked No. 13 in the nation in the latest USA Today poll.

Madison East Purgolders (7-5)

Key Players: Senior point guard Nimrod Hilliard will play college basketball next season at NCAA Division I South Dakota State. A three-year starter for the Pugolders, Hilliard currently leads the team in scoring at 26.1 ppg. Backcourt teammate Rudy Bentley Jr., contributes 12.3 ppg for first-year coach Matt Miota.

Notable History: Madison East tied for the conference championship in the ultra-tough Big Eight Conference last season, but Hilliard is the lone returning regular from that squad. East has qualified for the WIAA State Tournament 12 times with the most recent coming in 1990.

6:30 p.m., St. Cloud Apollo vs. Rice Lake


Apollo's Blake Maslonkowski

St. Cloud Apollo Eagles (10-3, No. 6 in Class 3A)

Key Players: It starts inside for the Eagles, who feature one of the best front lines in Class AAA with Simon Krych (13.5 ppg) and Blake Maslonkowski (15.9 ppg). Both have committed to the University of Mary, although they play a different style. Maslonkowski is more of a masher on the boards, while Krych is a lanky shot-blocker. Guards Derek Steve (11.8 ppg) and Ibrahim Abukar (12.2 ppg) can also make opponents pay from the perimeter.

Notable History: Apollo has been to four straight Section 8AAA finals, but hasn’t been back to state since 1973 (it’s only appearance). In each of the last three years, the Eagles lost to Little Falls on a last-second shot.

Rice Lake Warriors (9-2, No. 8 in Division 2)

Key Players: Junior Wally Ellenson is the son of former Marquette and Wisconsin forward John Ellenson. He has scholarship offers from eight different NCAA Division I schools, including both Green Bay and Milwaukee. Ellenson leads Rice Lake in scoring at 20.8 ppg. Junior Alex Cuskey adds 12.3 ppg for the Warriors, who currently lead the Big Rivers Conference.

Notable History: Rice Lake has qualified for the WIAA State Tournament seven times during its history with the most recent coming in 2002.

8:15 p.m., St. Cloud Tech vs. Baldwin-Woodville


Tech's Trey Barber

St. Cloud Tech Tigers (4-12)

Key Players: It’s a new look for the Tigers this winter, as much of the starting lineup that led them to three straight state tourneys has graduated. That’s opened the door for Alex Matchinsky (10.8 ppg), Kevin Heysse (9.4 ppg), Trey Barber (9.2 ppg) and Nick Baker (8.2 ppg) to step forward. Barber is a smooth and quick junior guard, while Heysse is a 6-foot-6 junior wing whose height creates match-up problems for opponents.

Notable History: Tech has been to state out of Section 8AAAA each of the last three years, finishing third in 2008 and 2009 and second to Hopkins last winter.

Baldwin-Woodville Blackhawks (8-3)

Key Players: Junior Ryan Benoy is one of the premier point guard prospects in Wisconsin. The son of Baldwin-Woodville head coach Scott Benoy, Ryan Benoy is averaging a team-best 18.7 ppg. He also contributes 3.6 apg and 3.4 rpg. Junior Tyler Heitman is also averaging in double figures for the Blackhawks at 10.8 ppg.

Notable History: Baldwin-Woodville has never advanced to the WIAA State Tournament, though the Blackhawks are hoping to make a strong run at state this season at the Division 3 level.

The 2011 Border Battle is set for Saturday, Jan. 29, at St. Cloud Tech High School. The fifth annual event features six teams from Minnesota going head-to-head with six from Wisconsin.

What's at stake? Bragging rights between the two states.

Minnesota got the best of Wisconsin in 2010, five games to none and leads the overall series 12-8.

Fans who can't get to St. Cloud Tech High School Saturday have another outlet to watch their favorite teams!  Webcast America will be broadcasting the entire Border Battle right here.

2011 Border Battle

Time MN WI
11:30 a.m. Tartan Seymour
1:15 p.m. Rocori Manitowoc Roncalli
3:00 p.m. St. Cloud Cathedral LaCrosse Aquinas
4:45 p.m. Hopkins Madison East
6:30 p.m. St. Cloud Apollo Rice Lake
8:15 p.m. St. Cloud Tech Baldwin-Woodville

Related Stories

Most Popular Stories

Most commented Stories