Pairings released for WI vs. MN Border on February 6, 2027
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Pairings for the annual Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle are set and once again feature some of the top boys' basketball teams and players from both states.
Three-time defending Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state champion Wisconsin Lutheran headlines the group of six Wisconsin teams that will represent the Badger state in the event, schedule for February 6, 2027 at the historic gym at Xavier High School in Appleton.
Wisconsin Lutheran takes on defending Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class AAA state champion Totino-Grace at 2:45 p.m. in the marquee game of the event.
Wisconsin Lutheran has won 88 of its last 90 games and WIAA Division 1 state crowns in 2026 and 2025 along with a Division 2 state title in 2024. The Vikings are led by 2027 standouts
Kager Knueppel
Kager
Knueppel
6'10" | SF/SG
Wisconsin Lutheran | 2027
State
#71
Nation
WI
(6-10),
Riley Walz
Riley
Walz
6'0" | PG
Wisconsin Lutheran | 2027
State
WI
(6-0) and Jamail Stewart (6-8) along with 2028 wing
Kinston Knueppel
Kinston
Knueppel
6'7" | SF/SG
Wisconsin Lutheran | 2028
State
#70
Nation
WI
(6-7).
Totino-Grace boasts a plethora of standout players, including 2027 stars
Malachi Hill
Malachi
Hill
6'0" | PG
Totino-Grace | 2027
State
MN
(6-0),
AJ Taban
AJ
Taban
6'6" | PF
Totino-Grace | 2027
State
MN
(6-6) and
Jaylan Hynes
Jaylan
Hynes
6'3" | SG
Totino-Grace | 2027
State
MN
(6-3) along with 2028 prospects
Daniel Zoa
Daniel
Zoa
6'6" | PF/SF
Totino-Grace | 2028
State
MN
(6-6) and
Jesse Riziq
Jesse
Riziq
6'8" | C/PF
Totino-Grace | 2028
State
MN
(6-8).
The Border Battle kicks off at 10:00 a.m. with St. Mary Catholic of Neenah/Menasha taking on Liberty Classical, which qualified for the MSHSL Class A State Tournament last March. St. Mary Catholic features a high-powered offense and welcomes back four starters from a 17-win squad in
Luke Fairweather
Luke
Fairweather
6'0" | PG
St. Mary Catholic | 2027
State
WI
(6-0),
Dylan Brenn
Dylan
Brenn
6'3" | SF
St. Mary Catholic | 2028
State
WI
(6-6),
Tarver Trinkner
Tarver
Trinkner
6'1" | SG
St. Mary Catholic | 2027
State
WI
(6-1) and
Max Vosters
Max
Vosters
6'3" | PF
St. Mary Catholic | 2027
WI
(6-3).
At 11:30 a.m., traditional WIAA power La Crosse Central meets traditional MSHSL power Minnehaha Academy. These two teams played in the Border Battle back in 2020 and sold out Mitchell Hall on the campus of UW-La Crosse as Central featured Johnny and
Jordan Davis
Jordan
Davis
4'10" | PG
MN
and Minnehaha Academy put out a lineup that included Jalen Suggs (now with the Orlando Magic) and Chet Holmgren (now with the Oklahoma Thunder). Both teams are expected to be very strong again next season with Minnehaha returning five key performers from a squad that won the MSHSL Class AA state championship. La Crosse Central is led by 2027 guards
Gabe Servais
Gabe
Servais
5'11" | PG
La Crosse Central | 2027
State
WI
(6-0),
Will Schilling
Will
Schilling
5'11" | CG
La Crosse Central | 2027
WI
(6-0) and
Anthony Jones
Anthony
Jones
6'1" | /SG
La Crosse Central | 2027
State
WI
(6-0).
At 1:15 p.m., Freedom meets Richfield in a battle of teams coming off extremely successful seasons. Freedom is led by Iowa State recruit
Donovan Davis
Donovan
Davis
6'8" | PF
Freedom | 2027
State
#25
Nation
WI
, a 6-foot-8 class of 2027 forward who averaged 21.7 points and 12.0 rebounds while leading the Irish to a 25-2 record in 2025-26. Richfield qualified for the MSHSL Class AAA State Tournament, advancing to the semifinal round before losing to Minneapolis DeLaSalle, 73-70.
Following the Wisconsin Lutheran vs. Totino-Grace contest, Nicolet meets Minneapolis DeLaSalle at 4:30 p.m. Nicolet is led by 2027 forward and
Team Herro
standout
Deuce McDuffie
Deuce
McDuffie
6'7" | SF/SG
Nicolet | 2027
State
#76
Nation
WI
(6-7) while DeLaSalle welcomes back six rotation players from a squad that lost 72-70 to Totino-Grace in the Class AAA state-title game. Leading the way for DeLaSalle is 2028 forward
Ichima Idoko
Ichima
Idoko
6'7" | PF
De La Salle | 2028
State
MN
(6-9), the top-ranked player in his class in Minnesota.
The nightcap of the event features the host school, Xavier, taking on Concordia Academy of the Twin Cities. Xavier is led by 2027 guard
Logan Ramczyk
Logan
Ramczyk
6'2" | CG/PG
Xavier | 2027
State
WI
(6-2), who begins his senior season with 1,376 career points and recently picked up a NCAA Division I scholarship offer from Northern Illinois. Concordia Academy is expected to field one of the strongest Class AA teams in the metro area and boasts a good deal of size.
Following is the schedule for the 2027 Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle
Saturday, February 6, 2027
At Xavier High School (Appleton)
10:00 a.m. -- St. Mary Catholic (WI) vs. Liberty Classical (MN)
11:30 a.m. -- La Crosse Central (WI) vs. Minnehaha Academy (MN)
1:15 p.m. -- Freedom (WI) vs. Richfield (MN)
2:45 p.m. -- Wisconsin Lutheran (WI) vs. Totino-Grace (MN)
4:30 p.m. -- Nicolet (WI) vs. DeLaSalle (MN)
6:00 p.m. -- Xavier (WI) vs. Concordia Academy (MN)
