The Border Battle Preview
In this article:
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),
Isiah robinson
Isiah
robinson
5'10" | PG
Racine Park | 2025
State
WI
(6-1, Soph., 9.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg),
Luka Momcilovic
Luka
Momcilovic
6'8" | SF
Pewaukee | 2025
State
WI
(6-6, Soph., 8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg),
Karson Osterman
Karson
Osterman
6'0" | SG
Pewaukee | 2025
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
Totino Grace | 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
6'8" | PF
Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025
State
#230
Nation
MN
(6-7, Soph., 18.2 ppg),
Jaleel Donley
Jaleel
Donley
6'1" | 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
Benilde-St.Margaret's | 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