Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

The 18th annual Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle is set for Saturday at River Falls High School with four games slated after the original date of February 7 had to be postponed due to inclement weather.

Tickets will be sold at the door for the event, which includes five Wisconsin teams and three Minnesota squads as several teams could not fit into their schedules to rescheduled date of February 15.

Following is a brief preview for each of the contests:

1:00 p.m.
River Falls (WI) vs. West De Pere (WI)

The host Wildcats of River Falls have played the last seven outings without their leading scorer as junior Brody Graetz (6-1) continues to recover from an injury. His status for Saturday remains undetermined, but the Wildcats most certainly could use his 17.9 ppg average in the game against a very good West De Pere squad. River Falls sits at 10-8 heading into its Friday encounter with visiting Hudson and is led by Graetz, senior point guard Preston Johnson (6-2) and senior forward Eli Johnson (6-7). Preston Johnson is headed to play football at Minnesota State Moorhead and is averaging 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. His toughness and ball handling are vital to the success of the Wildcats. Eli Johnson is an Iowa football recruit and he provides size and physical strength near the basket. Eli Johnson is averaging 10.1 points and 7.5 rebounds. Junior Tanner Bottolfson (6-1) is another key player for first-year coach Zach Turpin as he contributes 8.5 ppg and tops the team in made three-point field goals with 33. After a slow start against a very good schedule, West De Pere has won nine of its last 10 games. The Phantoms lead the Bay Conference standings by one game over Xavier, and those two teams meeting Thursday in Appleton. Coach Todd Deschane’s squad is led by talented sophomore forward Tref Rademaker (6-9), one of the better prospects in the state’s 2027 class. Rademaker is averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. He also has blocked 15 shots and is a very good passer when he gets double teamed in the post. Senior guard Bryce Borowicz (6-1), an Eau Claire recruit, is another valuable performer for the Phantoms as the heady backcourt performer is averaging 11.9 ppg and 2.1 rpg. Senior Riley Kraft (6-3) adds 9.7 ppg while junior Patrick Greisen (6-2) contributes 7.6 ppg. Sophomore Carson Samson (6-0) has put up some impressive showings for West De Pere as well and is averaging 6.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for a team that is 13-5.

2:45 p.m.
St. Augustine Prep (WI) vs. Heritage Christian (MN)

St. Augustine Prep is one of the newer high schools in Wisconsin and is located on the near southside of Milwaukee. The Lions play an independent schedule and are coached by Reid Koenen, a former standout player at The Prairie School in Racine and later at Texas State. St. Augustine is 9-11 heading into a game Thursday against Milwaukee Obama SCTE and is led by a pair of promising sophomore guards in Jcobi Mathis (6-0) and Zamari Whitmore (6-0). Mathis is putting up extremely impressive numbers for the up-tempo program at St. Augustine as he is averaging 25.7 points and is shooting 41 percent from three-point range with 74 makes in 181 attempts. Whitmore also is having a big year for the Lions as he is contributing 19.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 4.0 apg. Senior Deundra Lathan Jr. adds 9.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg while freshman Demarius Zollicoffer is contributing 8.2 ppg and 7.8 rpg. The Lions have played a rigorous schedule and own recent wins over respected programs from Kenosha St. Joseph and Living Word Lutheran. Heritage Christian is a Class A school (smallest division) in Minnesota and is 15-4 entering its game Thursday against Twin Cities Academy. COach Tim Herman’s squad has some size with 6-foot-6 sophomore Aaron Palmer averaging 12.9 ppg., 6-4 senior Abu Tarawallie adding 13.6 ppg and 6-3 senior Owen Haag pitching in 18.8 ppg. Guard play also is a strength for the Eagles as seniors Joshua Sokeye (6-0) and Jonah Moulton (5-11) are averaging 15.7 ppg and 10.4 ppg, respectively.

4:30 p.m.
Appleton North (WI) vs. Tartan (MN)

Two of the better teams from Wisconsin and Minnesota square off in this one with Appleton North representing the state’s top league, the Fox Valley Association, and Tartan taking an unbeaten record at 20-0 in to games Wednesday against Hill-Murray and Friday against Simley. Appleton North has played a brutal schedule and has won some big games while also dropping some. Coach Chris Kellett’s squad is 13-5 and plays a big league game Friday against Fond du Lac. Juniors Grant Hardy (6-4) and Nathan Ramus (6-2) are the top performers for the Lightning, but they get plenty of help from other gifted players, including junior guard Will Sweeney (5-11), senior wing Abraham Tomori (6-3), junior forward Ben Zdzieblowski (6-6) and freshman wing Matt Roslpochowski (6-0). Ramus and Hardy lead the team in scoring at 14.3 ppg and 14.1 ppg, respectively. Hardy is a versatile player on both ends of the court while Ramus can get on fire from deep. Ramus had a 42-point showing that included 10 three-point baskets in a win over Kaukauna last month. Sweeney is a talented ball handler and quick defender while Tomori brings plenty of strength and athleticism to the Appleton North lineup. Tartan, the site of the first Border Battle back in 2007, is guided by long-time coach Mark Klingsporn, and features a pair of talented guards in senior CJ Banks (5-11), who leads the team in scoring at 20.6 ppg, and freshman KJ Wilson (5-10), who ranks second in scoring at 17.0 ppg. The Titans are not a big team, but they have depth and have passed every test this winter.

6:15 p.m.
Eau Claire Memorial (WI) vs. Totino-Grace (MN)

Eau Claire Memorial sits on top of the Big Rivers Conference standings and boasts a senior-dominated lineup that has plenty of experience, skill and desire to do big things. The Old Abes have won 15 of 18 games entering Friday’s league outing against Rice Lake and are led by seniors Cooper Jesperson (6-4), Wesley Mboga (6-4), Julius Clark (6-0) and Bryce Hedtke (6-2). Jesperson leads the team in scoring at 20.1 ppg and has unlimited shooting range. He has made 53 three-point baskets and owns NCAA Division II scholarship offers from a number of programs. Mboga is a good athlete, solid defender and capable scorer and rebounder for coach Chad Brieske’s squad. Mboga is averaging 15.4 ppg and a team-best 6.2 rpg. Clark is a quick backcourt defender who competes with aggressiveness. He is contributing 7.7 ppg while Hedtke is a smooth combination guard who is averaging 6.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.8 apg. Totino-Grace is the defending Class AAA state champions in Minnesota and annually turns out scholarship-level players. Coach Nick Carroll’s squad is 15-5 and is led by Wofford recruit Chace Watley (6-2), who is averaging 21.5 ppg. Two highly regarded juniors — forward Dothan Ijadimbola (6-6) and Tian Chatman (6-4) — along with two gifted sophomores — Jaylan Hynes (6-3) and Malachi Hill (5-11) — also play key roles for the Eagles.