The Border Battle Preview

The Breakdown is pairing with the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook to put on the Border Battle once again. Here is the preview from Mark Miller of WBBY and MSN!

2023 Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle
January 21, 2023
At Prescott High School
Tickets Sold At Door: $10 Adults, $5 Students/Seniors
Streamed Via Prescott YouTube Page ... https://www.youtube.com/@psdactivitiesathletics3551

10:30 A.M. Game

Regis Ramblers
Coach: Connor Miller, 1st year
Enrollment: 200
Top Players: Jared Payne (5-10, Sr., 14.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, Kendon Krogman Kendon Krogman 6'4" | SF Eau Claire Regis | 2023 State WI (6-4, Sr., 11.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Owen Weisenberger (5-10, Soph., 8.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Josh Brickner (5-8, Sr., 2.5 rpg).
2022-23 Record: 2-11 (Through Jan. 19)
Notes: The Ramblers compete in the Cloverbelt West Conference ... Connor Miller, a former All-State player, is in his first year as head coach at his alma mater ... Miller played three years at Samford University and one year at Mankato State ... Krogman is a four-year varsity performer who has scored more than 800 career points ... Payne and Brickner are both three-year varsity performers for Regis, which won the WIAA Division 7 state football title last fall and the 2022 Division 4 baseball crown last spring.

Lyle-Austin Pacelli Athletics
Coach: Carl Truckenmiller, 1st year
Enrollment: 126 (Lyle 74, Pacelli 52)
Top Players:  Buay Koak Buay Koak 6'4" | SG Lyle-Pacelli | 2023 State MN (6-4, Sr.), Jake Truckenmiller Jake Truckenmiller 6'1" | PG Lyle | 2023 MN (6-1, Sr.), Landon Meyer (6-1, Soph.), Hunter Bauer (6-3, Sr.), Mac Nelson (6-2, Sr.).
2022-23 Record: 11-2 (Through games of Jan. 19)
Notes: Lyle-Pacelli is a coop program between Lyle High School and Austin Pacelli High School ... Lyle-Pacelli competes in Class 1A, Minnesota's smallest division based on school enrollment ... Lyle-Pacelli is a member of the Western Division of the Southeast Conference ... Koak is one of the better class of 2023 prospects in Minnesota and has scored more than 2,000 career points ... Lyle-Pacelli is ranked No. 10 among by Prep Hoops/The Breakdown

12:00 P.M. Game

Aquinas Blugolds
Coach: Brad Reinhart, 7th year
Enrollment: 313
Top Players: Walter Berns (6-4, Jr., 22.5 ppg), Tanner Peterson (6-2, Jr., 11.1 ppg), Andrew Sutton (6-0, Sr., 11.2 ppg), Logan Becker (6-2, Frosh., 9.2 ppg), Shane Willenbring (6-3, Jr., 5.4 ppg).
2022-23 Record: 11-2 (Through Jan. 19)
Notes: The Blugolds compete in the Mississippi Valley Conference ... Berns is an athletic wing who can score from the perimeter and off the dribble ... Sutton also is an outstanding soccer player ... Willenbring was a key lineman on Aquinas' WIAA Division 5 state-championship football team last fall ... Becker is one of the top class of 2026 prospects in Wisconsin ... Aquinas is ranked No. 7 among Division 4 schools.

Lake City Tigers
Coach: George Berge, 16th year
Enrollment: 347
Top Players:  Ryan Heise Ryan Heise 6'8" | SF Lake City | 2023 State MN (6-9, Sr.), Hunter Lorenson Hunter Lorenson 6'0" | PG Lake City | 2024 State MN (5-10, Jr), Keegan Ryan Keegan Ryan 6'2" | SF Lake City | 2024 State MN (6-4, Jr.), Jaden Shones Jaden Shones 6'1" | SG Lake City | 2024 State MN (6-3, Jr.).
2022-23 Record: 13-0 (Through games of Jan. 19)
Notes: Lake City is ranked No. 1 among Class 2A schools by Prep Hoops/The Breakdown ... Heise, listed as a 6-foot-9 guard, has committed to NCAA Division II Upper Iowa ... Lake City competes in the Hiawatha Valley Blue Conference ... Lake City advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals last season and finished the year with a 22-5 record. 

1:45 P.M. Game

Prescott Cardinals
Coach: Nick Johnson, 12th year
Enrollment: 457
Top Players:  Jordan Malmlov Jordan Malmlov 6'0" | CG Prescott | 2023 State WI (5-11, Sr., 26.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Dallas Wallin Dallas Wallin 6'3" | SF Prescott | 2024 State WI (6-5, Jr., 21.2 ppg, 11.0 rpg), Brandon Stuart (6-4, Sr., 11.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Brady Block (6-1, Sr., 8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg).
2022-23 Record: 10-3 (Through Jan. 19)
Notes: The Cardinals compete in the Middle Border Conference ... Malmlov is one of the state's top three-point shooting threats ... Through 12 games, he had made 49 three-point baskets ... Wallin is an outstanding scorer and rebounder, and anchors Prescott's 1-3-1 defense with his length and activity on top of the zone ... Prescott won its first 10 games of the season before sustaining losses to Osceola, Luther and Racine St. Catherine's ... Prescott is ranked No. 9 among Division 3 schools.

Concordia Academy Beacons
Coach: Eric Schutte
Enrollment: 273
Top Players: Alfonzo Greene (6-0, Sr., 20.8 ppg), Luke Olson (5-8, Jr., 8.0 ppg), Luc Swanson Luc Swanson 6'0" | SG Concordia Academy | 2023 MN (5-11, Sr., 11.7 ppg), Benjamin Raymond (6-3, Sr., 14.3 ppg).    
2022-23 Record: 7-5 (Through games of Jan. 19)
Notes: Concordia Academy is a 2A school that competes in the Skyline Conference ... The school is located in Roseville, Minnesota ... Concordia Academy went 16-13 a year ago. 

3:15 P.M. Game

La Crosse Central Riverhawks
Coach: Todd Fergot, 19th year
Enrollment: 1,055
Top Players:  Bennett Fried Bennett Fried 6'6" | SF La Crosse Central | 2023 State WI (6-7, Sr., 18.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Nic Williams Nic Williams 6'1" | PG La Crosse Central | 2023 State WI (6-2, Sr., 16.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Henry Meyer Henry Meyer 6'3" | SG La Crosse Central | 2024 State WI (6-3, Jr., 15.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Boston Brindley (6-0, Sr., 4.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg).
2022-23 Record: 9-3 (Through Jan. 19)
Notes: La Crosse Central has qualified for the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament five of the last seven seasons and won the state crown in 2017 ... Fried is one of the state's top basketball and track & field athletes ... Fried and Williams played key roles on La Crosse Central's squad that went 28-2 and lost to Pewaukee in the D2 state final last season ... Meyer is one of the state's better juniors ... The Riverhawks are ranked No. 4 among Division 2 teams.

Mahtomedi Zephyrs
Coach: Keith Newman, 17th year
Enrollment: 1,129
Top Players:  Owen Carlson Owen Carlson 6'3" | SG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN (6-4, Sr., 20.3 ppg), Will Underwood Will Underwood 6'0" | PG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN (6-3, Sr., 22.2 ppg), Cole Armitage Cole Armitage 6'1" | CG Mahtomedi | 2023 State MN (6-1, Sr., 14.6 ppg), AJ McCleery (6-1, Sr., 9.4 ppg), James Ecker (6-1, Sr., 5.4 ppg).
2022-23 Record: 9-2 (Through games of Jan. 19)
Notes: Mahtomedi is a 3A school that competes in the Metro East Conference ... The Zephyrs finished 18-8 a year ago ... Carlson is a 6-2 point guard with plenty of college interest ... Mahtomedi is ranked 5th by Prep Hoops/The Breakdown

5:00 P.M. Game

Onalaska Hilltoppers
Coach: Craig Kowal, 15th year
Enrollment: 953
Top Players: TJ Stuttley (6-5, Soph., 16.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg), Evan Anderson (6-4, Jr., 19.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Isaac Skemp Isaac Skemp 6'4" | SF Onalaska | 2024 State WI (6-5, Jr., 8.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Nick Odom Nick Odom 5'9" | PG Onalaska | 2023 WI (5-8, Sr., 5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Adam Skifton (6-2, Jr., 5.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg).
2022-23 Record: 8-3 (Through Jan. 19)
Notes: Stuttley is ranked among the top class of 2025 prospects in Wisconsin while Anderson ranks among the premier class of 2024 prospects in the state ... Stuttley and Anderson both are capable of multiple dunks in a game and both can score in different ways ... Skemp is a good perimeter shooter while Odom is a four-year varsity performer .. Skifton was the quarterback of a very successful Onalaska football team last fall ... Onalaska is ranked NO. 6 among Division 2 teams. 

Minneapolis North Polars
Coach: Ricky Davis, 1st year
Enrollment: 294
Top Players: Larry Perkins (6-3, Sr.), Zashon Rich (6-2, Jr.), Keishaude Gilmer (5-9, Sr.), Max Wilson (6-3, Sr.), AuVon Sager (6-5, Sr.). 
2022-23 Record: 6-4 (Through games of Jan. 19)
Notes: Ricky Davis is in his first year as the head coach of the Polars ... He replaced legendary Polars' coach Larry McKenzie, who retired after last season ... The Polars compete in the Minneapolis City Conference ... Minneapolis North is ranked No. 10 by Prep Hoops/The Breakdown

6:30 P.M. Game

Pewaukee Pirates
Coach: David Burkemper, 5th year
Enrollment: 839
Top Players:  Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI (6-8, Sr., 26.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI (6-4, Jr., 20.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Isaiah Robinson (6-1, Soph., 9.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Luka Momcilovic Luka Momcilovic 6'8" | PF Pewaukee | 2025 State WI (6-6, Soph., 8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Karson Osterman Karson Osterman 5'9" | PG Pewaukee | 2025 State WI (5-8, Soph., 6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg).
2022-23 Record: 8-2 (Through Jan. 19)
Notes: Pewaukee is the two-time defending WIAA Division 2 state champion and currently is ranked No. 1 among D2 schools in Wisconsin ... Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI has signed with Iowa State and is the top-ranked class of 2023 prospect in Wisconsin ... Janowski owns scholarship offers from a number of high-major programs, including Iowa State, Marquette and Wisconsin ... Luka Momcilovic is the younger brother of Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI and headlines a very strong sophomore class at Pewaukee. 

Totino-Grace Eagles
Coach: Nick Carroll
Enrollment: 682
Top Players:  Patrick Bath Patrick Bath 6'9" | C Totino Grace | 2023 State MN (6-9, Sr., 16.9 ppg), Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN (6-4, Sr., 8.0 ppg), Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN (6-5, Sr., 12.3 ppg), Tyler Wagner Tyler Wagner 6'6" | SF Champlin Park | 2025 State #366 Nation MN (6-4, Soph., 10.0 ppg), Isaiah Johnson Isaiah Johnson 6'7" | SF Totino-Grace | 2024 State #135 Nation MN (6-7, Jr., 11.8 ppg), Zy'Lere Stewart (6-0, Jr., 6.8 ppg).  
2022-23 Record: 7-3 (Through games of Jan. 19)
Notes: Chatman is the top-ranked senior in Minnesota and has committed to Ohio State ... Humphries has committed to NCAA Division I Furman ... Bath also is considered a DI prospects and has offers from several schools ... Totino-Grace competes in the Northwest Suburban Conference and won the Class 3A state title in 2022 ... The Eagles are ranked No. 1 by Prep Hoops/The Breakdown

8:00 P.M. Game

Middleton Cardinals
Coach: Kevin Bavery, 17th year
Enrollment: 2,378
Top Players:  Gavyn Hurley Gavyn Hurley 6'4" | CG Middleton | 2023 State WI (6-5, Sr., 20.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Owen Cooney Owen Cooney 6'5" | SF Middleton | 2023 WI (6-6, Sr., 9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Will Garlock Will Garlock 6'11" | C Middleton | 2025 State #204 Nation WI (6-10, Soph., 8.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Will Comerford (6-6, Sr., 7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Kaden Fosdick Kaden Fosdick 6'4" | PF Middleton | 2023 State WI (6-6, Sr., 7.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
2022-23 Record: 13-0 (Through Jan. 19)
Notes: Middleton is ranked No. 2 among Division 1 schools in Wisconsin and competes in the Big Eight Conference ... Hurley has committed to NCAA Division II Winona State and can score, pass and rebound ... Garlock is listed among the top class of 2025 prospects in Wisconsin.

Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights
Coach: Damian Johnson
Enrollment: 928
Top Players:  Jalen Wilson Jalen Wilson 6'7" | PF Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State #230 Nation MN (6-7, Soph., 18.2 ppg), Jaleel Donley Jaleel Donley 6'3" | PG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN (6-2, Soph., 13.4 ppg), Jayden Daisy Jayden Daisy 6'4" | SG Benilde St. Margaret's | 2024 State MN (6-4, Jr., 13.4 ppg), Abu Keita Abu Keita 6'5" | SF Park Center | 2025 State MN (6-5, Soph., 12.1 ppg), Kayden Wells Kayden Wells 6'6" | PF Minnetonka | 2024 State MN (6-5, Jr., 6.1 ppg).  
2022-23 Record: 9-1 (Through games of Jan. 19)
Notes: Wilson is the top-ranked sophomore in Minnesota while Donley also ranks among the elite class of 2025 prospects in the state ... Benilde-St. Margaret's competes in the Metro West Conference and has just one senior on its roster ... The Red Knights are ranked No. 3 by Prep Hoops/The Breakdown