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In-depth previews for teams participating in the 2020 WI vs. MN Border Battle

01/22/2020, 1:15pm CST
By Mark Miller

Vaughn Breit

2020 WISCONSIN VS. MINNESOTA BORDER BATTLE
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Tickets $10 for entire day (Sold at the door only)

Note:
Tickets will go on sale at 9:00 a.m. at La Crosse Central High School. Fans attending games at both Central and UW-La Crosse will receive a wristband that will be good for admission at both sites. Remaining tickets will be sold at UW-La Crosse starting at 5:30 p.m.

STREAMING: Available for some games on Zaleski Sports

10:00 A.M. Game (Updated 1/29/2020)
At La Crosse Central

Stratford Tigers
Coach:
 Curt Schmidt, 20th year
Enrollment: 306
Top Players: Ben Barten (6-5, Sr., 16.5 ppg), Vaughn Breit (6-5, Sr., 8.1 ppg), Chandler Schmidt (6-2, Sr., 11.4 ppg), Teddy Redman (6-0, Sr., 11.8 ppg), Dawson Danen (6-3, Sr., 7.6 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 14-0 (Through Jan. 28)
Notes: The Tigers compete in the highly competitive Southern Division of the Marawood Conference ... Barten has committed to playing football at the University of Wisconsin ... Breit is a four-year varsity performer for Stratford ... Barten, Breit and Schmidt are returning starters from a club that finished 24-1 a year ago ... The Tigers are ranked No. 2 among WIAA Division 4 schools in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll.
Coach's Comments: "Experience, size and skill are strengths. Quickness is our biggest concern."

Spring Grove Lions
Coach: Wade Grinde, 26th year
Enrollment: 161
Top Players: Caden Grinde (6-4, Jr., 15.4 ppg), John Koch (6-4, Jr., 8.9 ppg), Caleb Nurstad (6-1, Sr., 8.6 ppg), Payton Leahy (5-8, Sr., 8.0 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 7-9 (Through games of Jan. 28)
Notes: The Lions compete in the Eastern Division of the Southeast Conference ... Coach Wade Grinde has won more than 450 games during his tenure at the school ... The Lions lost to Stevens Point Pacelli in the 2018 Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle held at Stevens Point Area Senior High.

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Aidan Clarey

11:30 A.M. Game (Updated 1/29/2020)
At La Crosse Central

Brookfield Academy Blue Knights
Coach:
 Pat Clarey, 10th year
Enrollment: 314
Top Players: Aidan Clarey (6-2, Sr., 24.1 ppg), Max Kunnert (6-3, Jr., 19.3 ppg), Logan Landers (6-10, Jr., 18.1 ppg), Alex Leech (6-6, Sr., 9.8 ppg), Peytan Clarey (6-2, Soph., 4.3 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 12-4 (Through Jan. 29)
Notes: The Blue Knights compete in the Midwest Classic Conference ... Aidan Clarey, the son of the head coach, has signed with NCAA Division II Rockhurst ... Leech, Landers and Kunnert also are very good collegiate prospects ... Brookfield Academy went 20-6 a year ago and is ranked No. 6 among WIAA Division 4 schools in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll.
Coach's Comments: "Our strengths include staying awake during film sessions, taking turns at the drinking fountain and being on time for team meals. Accepting roles is our biggest challenge."

Lake City Tigers
Coach: Greg Berge, 14th year
Enrollment: 361
Top Players: Nathan Heise (6-5, Sr., 29.4 ppg), Reid Gastner (6-4, Sr., 15.0 ppg.), Jake Wohlers (6-3, Sr., 9.6 ppg), Justin Wohlers (6-5, Soph., 9.2 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 15-1 (Through games of Jan. 28)
Notes: The Lions compete in the Gold Division of the Hiawatha Valley Conference ... Heise has signed with NCAA Division I Northern Iowa while Gastner signed with NCAA Division II Minnesota State Moorhead ... Lake City is ranked No. 3 among Class 2A schools in Minnesota.

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Dalton Banks

1:15 P.M. Game (Updated 1/29/2020)
At La Crosse Central

Eau Claire North Huskies
Coach:
 Todd Marks, 5th year
Enrollment: 1,426
Top Players: Dalton Banks (6-2, Sr., 22.2 ppg), Ashton Kallstrom (6-0, Sr., 20.1 ppg), Chad Kron (6-0, Jr., 14.4 ppg), Luke Warren (6-2, Sr., 8.3 ppg), Henry Wilkinson (6-4, Soph., 4.2 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 10-2 (Through Jan. 28)
Notes: The Huskies compete in the Big Rivers Conference ... Banks is a four-year varsity performer who signed with NCAA Division I Southern Illinois last November ... Kallstrom and Kron join Banks in the Huskies' potent backcourt ... Banks, Kallstrom and Kron are returning starters from a club that finished 14-9 last season.
Coach's Comments: "Guard play, basketball IQ and perimeter shooting are assets. Physicality, lack of size and rebounding are concerns."

Rochester Mayo Spartans
Coach: Luke Madsen, 3rd year
Top Players: Gabe Madsen (6-5, Sr., 27.5 ppg), Mason Madsen (6-3, Sr., 19.3 ppg), Michael Sharp (6-2, Jr., 11.0 ppg), Andre Crockett (6-0, Jr., 7.1 ppg), Mo Hammadelniel (6-2, Jr., 6.4 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 10-5 (Through games of Jan. 28)
Notes: The Spartans compete in the Big Nine Conference ... Coach Luke Madsen and his sons, Gabe and Mason, are Wisconsin natives .... Luke coached both Gabe and Mason when they were freshmen at Bloomer High School before the family moved to Rochester ... Gabe and Mason Madsen have signed letters of intent to play college basketball at NCAA Division I Cincinnati. 

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Logan Jedwabny

2:45 P.M. Game (Updated 1/29/2020)
At La Crosse Central

Kaukauna Ghosts
Coach:
 Mike Schalow, 25th year
Enrollment: 1,165
Top Players: Logan Jedwabny (6-2, Sr., 16.4 ppg), Jacob Newhouse (6-6, Sr., 15.5 ppg), Keaton Ferris (6-0, Sr., 11.5 ppg), Chris Morgan (6-1, Soph., 10.9 ppg), Gabe Hammen (6-2, Jr., 5.8 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 7-7 (Through Jan. 28)
Notes: The Ghosts compete in the Fox Valley Association ... Jedwabny, Newhouse and Ferris are receiving recruiting attention from several NCAA Division II programs ... Ferris recently gave a verbal commitment to play at NCAA DII Minnesota State Mankato ... Jedwabny and Ferris are four-year varsity performers for the Ghosts ... Schalow is closing in on 500 career coaching victories as he entered the 2019-20 season with 484 career triumphs.
Coach's Comments: "Team speed, confidence and free-throw shooting are strengths. Rebounding and half-court defense are question marks."

Mahtomedi Zephyrs
Coach: Keith Newman, 14th year
Top Players: Brody Fox (6-3, Sr., 17.1 ppg), Cal Greene (6-6, Jr., 14.0 ppg), Cole Chapman (6-10, Sr., 11.1 ppg), Luke Ricker (6-5, Sr., 10.3 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 7-8 (Through games of Jan. 28)
Notes: The Zephyrs compete in the Metro East Conference ... Mahtomedi is a Class 3A school, the second-largest classification in Minnesota ... Coach Keith Newman has won more than 225 games during his 13-plus years as the Zephyrs head coach. 

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Tre Valeriano

4:15 P.M. Game (Updated 1/29/2020)
At La Crosse Central

Milwaukee Washington Purgolders
Coach:
 Fred Riley, 8th year
Enrollment: 747
Top Players: Tre Valeriano (5-11, Jr., 16.3 ppg), Koriayon McKay (5-9, Jr., 12.3 ppg), Shamar Hollins (5-10, Jr., 9.7 ppg), Marquise Gray (5-9, Jr., 8.8 ppg), Nicholas Spain (6-3, Jr., 6.1 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 4-9 (Through Jan. 28)
Notes: The Purgolders compete in the Milwaukee City Conference ... Coach Fred Riley has guided Washington to the WIAA State Tournament in each of the past three seasons ... Valerinao, McKay and Hollins form one of the top backcourt trios in the Milwaukee City Conference ... Former Washington standout, Michael Foster Jr., is a 6-foot-10 junior center playing this season at Hillcrest Prep School in Arizona.
Coach's Comments: "Quickness, speed, guard play and toughness are strengths. Post depth and injuries are question marks."

Austin Packers
Coach: Kris Fadness
Top Players: Teyghan Hovland (6-3, Jr., 13.3 ppg), Agwa Nywesh (6-3, Sr., 13.8 ppg), Ogur Gari (6-4, Sr., 8.7 ppg), Okey Okey (6-2, Jr., 8.7 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 14-3 (Through games of Jan. 28)
Notes: The Packers compete in the Big Nine Conference ... Austin advanced to the Minnesota State High School League State Tournament in five of the past eight seasons ... Several of the Packers' top players are Sudan natives ... The Packers are ranked No. 6 among schools at the Class 3A level in Minnesota. 

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Johnny Davis

6:15 P.M. Game (Updated 1/29/2020)
At UW-La Crosse

La Crosse Central Red Raiders
Coach:
 Todd Fergot, 16th year
Enrollment: 1,120
Top Players: Johnny Davis (6-5, Sr., 28.2 ppg), Terrance Thompson (6-7, Sr., 14.7 ppg), Jordan Davis (6-4, Sr., 13.1 ppg), Charlie Masewicz (6-6, Sr., 9.4 ppg), Devon Fielding (6-0, Soph., 7.5 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 9-3 (Through Jan. 28)
Notes: The Red Raiders compete in the Mississippi Valley Conference ... Johnny Davis and Jordan Davis signed letters of intent to play college basketball at the University of Wisconsin ... Thompson also has several offers from NCAA Division I programs, but has not signed with a program yet ... Fielding is one of a handful of talented sophomores in the La Crosse Central program ... The Red Raiders are ranked No. 2 among WIAA Division 2 schools in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll.
Coach's Comments: "Size, length, depth, talent and experience are all strengths. Perimeter shooting is our top concern."

Minnehaha Academy Redhawks
Coach: Lance Johnson, 16th year
Top Players: Jalen Suggs (6-5, Sr., 21.6 ppg), Chet Holmgren (7-0, Jr., 16.5 ppg), Prince Aligbe (6-6, Soph., 10.8 ppg), Donovan Smith (5-8, Soph., 9.8 ppg), Isaiah Davis (6-3, Jr., 6.8 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 14-2 (Through games of Jan. 28)
Notes: The Redhawks compete in the Independent Metro Athletic Conference ... Suggs recently gave a verbal commitment to play at Gonzaga University and is ranked as one of the top 10 players nationally in the 2020 class ... Holmgren is ranked among the top five players in the 2021 class and has yet to commit to a collegiate program ... Minneahaha Academy recently beat Sierra Canyon High School of California before 17,000 fans at the Target Center ... Minnehaha Academy is ranked No. 1 among class 2A schools in Minnesota.  

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Tyrell Stuttley

7:45 P.M. Game (Updated 1/29/2020)
At UW-La Crosse

Onalaska Hilltoppers
Coach:
 Craig Kowal, 12th year
Enrollment: 929
Top Players: Tyrell Stuttley (6-5, Sr., 14.8 ppg), Carsen Arenz (6-5, Sr., 13.2 ppg), Sam Kick (6-2, Jr., 11.0 ppg), Dakota Mannel (6-0, Sr., 7.4 ppg), Gavin McGrath (6-11, Jr., 6.6 ppg), Victor Desmond (6-6, Jr., 6.6 ppg), Evan Gamoke (5-9, Jr., 5.3 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 13-1 (Through Jan. 28)
Notes: The Hilltoppers compete in the Mississippi Valley Conference ... Stuttley signed with NCAA Division II Minnesota State Mankato while Arenz is receiving strong interest from a number of Division II programs ... McGrath, Kick and Desmond rank among the top juniors in the state ... Stuttley and Arenz each earned first-team all-league honors as juniors ... The Hilltoppers are ranked No. 1 among WIAA Division 2 schools in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll. 
Coach's Comments: "Experience and balance are our primary strengths. Vocal leadership is a question mark."

Lakeville North Panthers
Coach: John Oxton, 34th year
Top Players: Will Blascziek (6-4, Jr., 14.1 ppg), Josh Kamara (6-0, Sr., 11.9 ppg), Noah Frechette (6-5, Sr., 8.9 ppg), Carter Patterson (6-1, Sr., 7.4 ppg), Nelson Koshiol (6-0, Sr., 8.1 ppg).
2019-20 Record: 9-7 (Through games of Jan. 28)
Notes: The Panthers compete in the South Suburban Conference ... University of Wisconsin freshman Tyler Wahl is a Lakeville North graduate ... Oxton is closing in on 600 career victories and is one of Minnesota's most respected coaches. 

Tag(s): Border Battle  Wisconsin vs Minnesota