Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle standouts/results

The 18th annual Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle took place Saturday at Hamline University with Minnesota winning five of the seven games. Here's a quick look at some of the Wisconsin standouts from the day-long event:   [player_tooltip player_id='2405197' first='Tyler' last='Kowal'] of Onalaska (Soph.). Kowal is the alpha dog on the talented Onalaska squad as just a sophomore. He takes and makes the big shots, competes with an edge and uses his quickness, explosiveness and impressive passing, shooting and ball handling skills to make a huge impact on the game. He finished with a team-best 24 points and made five three-point baskets, including three big ones to help Onalaska overcome a 34-18 halftime deficit to take a late 58-57 lead before eventually dropping a 61-58 decision to Apple Valley. Kowal ranks among the top class of 2028 prospects in Wisconsin and his showing at the Border Battle only solidified that lofty standing. [player_tooltip player_id='2117026' first='Ian' last='Kowal'] of Onalaska (Sr.). The older brother of [player_tooltip player_id='2405197' first='Tyler' last='Kowal'], [player_tooltip player_id='2117026' first='Ian' last='Kowal'] might not be as flashy as his younger sibling but his impact on a game is huge, nonetheless. He had 13 points in the loss to Apple Valley, but his court poise, smart decisions and ability to guard multiple positions are huge assets for the Hilltoppers. A four-year varsity performer at Onalaska, Kowal is one of the state's better uncommitted class of 2026 prospects. [player_tooltip player_id='2500826' first='Jacob' last='Misslich'] of Franklin (Sr.). Misslich got it going in the second half by using his size (6-foot-4) and physical strength to overcome defenders from Breck on his way to the basket. Misslich scored four hoops in the lane and went five-of-seven from the line during the second half of the contest en route to scoring a game-high 23 points. The NCAA Division II Florida Tech recruit also dropped a couple of three-point baskets for the otherwise young Franklin squad. [player_tooltip player_id='2475616' first='Cooper' last='Foeckler'] of Franklin (Fr.). Foeckler is an intriguing prospect from the 2029 class who is earning major minutes as a freshmen for coach Tyler Podoll's squad at Franklin. He came out on fire against Breck as he scored 12 points in the first several minutes of the game before cooling off a bit and finishing with 15 points. Foeckler is a skilled wing with good size (6-foot-4) and length. He will be an even tough player to defend once he fills out some and adds the ability to get to the basket to his impressive outside shooting skill. [player_tooltip player_id='2371700' first='Deuce' last='McDuffie'] of Nicolet (Jr.). McDuffie has had a bit of an up-down-season due to various injuries and an illness. But he played at a very high level and was instrumental in Nicolet upsetting one of Minnesota's top teams at the Border Battle. McDuffie finished with 19 points in the Knights' 68-67 win over Maple Grove and was able to score with consistency at all three levels. The athletic and extremely mobile 6-foot-7 wing had a three-point basket from the baseline while also getting to the basket and the foul line for Nicolet. He drew six fouls while also defending well due to his length and mobility. McDuffie currently owns NCAA Division I scholarship offers from nine schools, including DePaul, TCU and Wisconsin. [player_tooltip player_id='1781157' first='Rashaad' last='Davis'] of Nicolet (Sr.). Watch Davis play enough times and you come away convinced he is going to have a long future in the game. The NCAA Division I Southern Utah recruit was the best player on the floor in Nicolet's 68-67 win over a Maple Grove squad that boasts two of the top-ranked juniors in Minnesota in Baboucarr Ann (6-5) and Jack Thelen (7-0). Davis has the ball on a string with his deft ball handling and that allows him to get into places the defense doesn't want him to be. He finished with 23 points and three triples while making all four of his foul shots to propel Nicolet to perhaps its biggest win of the season. [player_tooltip player_id='2860533' first='Landon' last='Anrig'] of Superior (Sr.). Playing minus its star player for the 12th time this season as Minnesota-Duluth recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2045262' first='Calvin' last='Anderson'] remains on the mend from the injury, Superior needed some players to step up as it was taking on a powerful squad from Minneapolis DeLaSalle. Enter Anrig, who kept the Spartans within striking distance of the Islanders for most of the game with his outside shooting, physical strength and overall grittiness. Anrig finished with 21 points and had five triples in the contest that Superior eventually dropped 64-54. [player_tooltip player_id='2860484' first='Beckam' last='Lull'] of Superior (So.). One of the more pleasant surprises of the entire Border Battle, Lull made a name for himself while competing favorably against one of the better defensive squads in Minnesota. Despite constant pressure defense from Minneapolis DeLaSalle, Lull managed to score 17 points, handle the ball in traffic and get his teammates involved with his court vision. Lull is quick with the ball in his hands and has impressive outside shooting prowess as he canned four three-point baskets in the Spartans' 10-point loss. [player_tooltip player_id='2116495' first='Cahlil' last='Jones'] of Germantown (Sr.). Germantown ran up against the most impressive team of the entire Border Battle in Totino-Grace. And while the Eagles proved too deep, too tall and just too talented for the Warhawks, Jones more than held his own against a team that has won 16 of 18 games. Jones finished with 25 points in the game was at the foul line all afternoon. The uncommitted senior wing made 11-of-14 from the foul stripe while also scoring above the rim and drilling a pair of three-point baskets for a Germantown squad that was coming off an impressive win earlier in the week at Brookfield East. [player_tooltip player_id='2498966' first='Darrius' last='Peete'] of Germantown (Sr.). Like teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2116495' first='Cahlil' last='Jones'], Peete was able to adjust to the length, athleticism and physicality of the Totino-Grace squad. He finished with 20 points and made a couple of three-point shots while also earning multiple trips to the foul line due to his hard drives to the basket. Peete seems to be coming on late in the season and that's a great sign for a Germantown squad more than capable of making a run in the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id='2411648' first='Charlie' last='Hoel'] of Stanley-Boyd (Jr.). Hoel had a rather quiet first half in the Orioles' loss to Heritage Christian, but he was a different player in the second 18 minutes. The mobile and skilled 6-foot-8 junior forward scored 18 of his 23 points after the break to help Stanley-Boyd rally from a huge 37-21 hole at intermission. Hoel was able to pivot around defenders in the post and score with his soft shooting touch while also defending the basket with his length and verticality. Hoel holds a NCAA Division II offer from Northern Michigan and could very well garner more interest from scholarship schools this spring and summer on the club circuit. [player_tooltip player_id='2416199' first='Maddix' last='Gulseth'] of Roncalli (Jr.). Gulseth is normally a reliable shooter, particularly from deep and the foul line. But he showed his ability to get to the basket and score in the Jets' loss to Minnehaha Academy. The 6-foot-1 junior guard scored a team-best 17 points and made seven of his eight field goals in the lane. The other was a three-point bomb. He did struggle from the foul line, going an uncharacteristic 0-for-7 after coming into the contest nailing 75 percent from the stripe. Saturday's WI vs. MN Border Battle results Heritage Christian (MN) 72, Stanley-Boyd (WI) 61. Heritage Christian moves to 13-5 while Stanley Boyd slips to 14-4. Minnehaha Academy (MN) 81, Roncalli (WI) 53. Minnehaha Academy moves to 14-4 while Roncalli slips to 13-4. Franklin (WI) 70, Breck (MN) 65. Franklin moves to 10-9 while Breck slips to 8-12. Nicolet (WI) 68, Maple Grove (MN) 67. Nicolet moves to 9-9 while Maple Grove slips to 12-6. Minneapolis DeLaSalle (MN) 64, Superior (WI) 54. DeLaSalle moves to 17-2 while Superior slips to 14-6. Totino-Grace (MN) 98, Germantown (WI) 69. Totino-Grace moves to 16-2 while Germantown slips to 12-6. Apple Valley MN) 61, Onalaska (WI) 58. Apple Valley moves to 12-6 while Onalaska slips to 14-2. Next Year The 19th annual Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle is set for February 6, 2027 at Xavier High School in Appleton. Wisconsin squads tentatively scheduled to take part include host Xavier, St. Mary Catholic, Kaukauna, Freedom, La Crosse Central and Wisconsin Lutheran. From the Minnesota side, schools slated to take part include Minneapolis DeLaSalle, Totino-Grace, Minnehaha Academy, Concordia Academy, Richfield and Liberty Classical.

The 18th annual Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle took place Saturday at Hamline University with Minnesota winning five of the seven games.

Here's a quick look at some of the Wisconsin standouts from the day-long event: