WISCONSIN TEAMS (Updated 1/27/2016)
Columbus Catholic Dons (Marshfield)
Coach: Joe Konieczny, 11th year
Enrollment: 140
Top Players: Evan Nikolai (6-2, Sr., 15.3 ppg), Hunter Schultz (6-0, Jr., 19.5 ppg), Tyler Fuerlinger (6-1, Jr., 16.7 ppg), Nick Malovhr (5-10, Soph., 13.0 ppg), Billy Young (6-2, Sr., 5.1 ppg), Matthias Gouin (6-0, Sr., 4.8 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 13-0 (Through Jan. 26)
Notes: Columbus Catholic finished 15-9 last season, including 13-3 in the Eastern Division of the Cloverbelt Conference ... The Dons are ranked No. 3 among WIAA Division 5 teams in the WisSports.net Coaches poll ... Nikolai, Schultz and Fuerlinger all are two-year starters for coach Joe Konieczny ... Columbus Catholic is not a tall team, but the Dons are very quick and like to play an up-tempo style.
Coach's Comments: "Quickness, depth and ball handling are strengths. Lack of size and rebounding are our biggest concerns."
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Westby Norsemen
Coach: Bob Constalie, 26th year
Enrollment: 349
Top Players: Jesse Solberg (6-3, Jr., 17.8 ppg), Ross Stalsberg (6-7, Sr., 10.2 ppg), Travis Hofslien (6-2, Sr., 8.7 ppg), Shane Gran (6-1, Sr., 9.8 ppg), Nick Meyers (6-2, Sr., 3.3 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 11-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: Westby competes in the Coulee Conference and is battling Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau and Arcadia for the league championship ... Coach Bob Constalie has won more than 400 games during his long coaching career ... Junior wing Jesse Solberg is enjoying a breakout season and can score from the perimeter and off the dribble.
Coach's Comments: "Experience, tradition, attitude and depth are strengths while quickness and defensive toughness are concerns."
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Eau Claire Memorial Old Abes
Coach: Greg Van Grunsven, 9th year
Enrollment: 1,696
Top Players: Isaac Appleby (6-2, Sr., 19.9 ppg), Darian Dieckman (6-0, Sr., 8.3 ppg), Cormac Sampson (6-4, Soph., 7.9 ppg), Reece Meier (6-3, Jr., 8.1 ppg), Storm Standiford (6-4, Sr., 5.7 ppg), Karl Buttel (6-6, Sr., 4.7 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 10-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: Appleby and Buttel are returning starters from a squad that finished 13-10 a year ago ... Appleby is one of the top backcourt players in Wisconsin and is receiving recruiting interest from a number of NCAA Division II schools ... Appleby earned second-team all-Big Rivers Conference laurels as a junior ... The Old Abes lost to La Crosse Central, another Border Battle team representing Wisconsin, 61-50 in mid-December.
Coach's Comments: "Overall quickness and size are our strengths. We entered the season with a lack of varsity experience outside of Appleby and Buttel."
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La Crosse Central Red Raiders
Coach: Todd Fergot, 12th year
Enrollment: 1,066
Top Players: Kobe King (6-4, Jr., 26.5 ppg), Bailey Kale (6-0, Jr., 16.2 ppg), Noah Parcher (6-0, Frosh., 7.2 ppg), Aiden Austen (6-0, Sr., 5.8 ppg), Isaiah Dahlman (6-1, Jr., 7.4 ppg), Mitchell Lash (6-3, Jr., 3.9 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 12-2 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Red Raiders are ranked No. 7 among WIAA Division 2 schools in the WisSports.net Coaches poll ... King has committed to the University of Wisconsin and is the top-ranked class of 2017 prospect in the state in the player rankings on WisSports.net ... King and Kale are both three-year varsity performers for coach Todd Fergot and form one of the elite backcourt duos in the state.
Coach's Comments: "Ball handling, shooting and experience are among our strengths while lack of size at some positions is a concern."
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Onalaska Hilltoppers
Coach: Craig Kowal, 8th year
Enrollment: 897
Top Players: Jalen Zubich (5-10, Jr., 17.5 ppg), Noah Fredrickson (5-10, Jr., 13.4 ppg), Jalen Sample (6-4, Jr., 9.2 ppg), Tyler Turriff (6-2, Jr., 8.5 ppg) Noah Skifton (6-0, Soph., 7.1 ppg), Alex Olson (6-3, Sr., 5.9 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 11-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Hilltoppers play sound team defense and move the ball well on offense ... Coach Craig Kowal, who guided Onalaska to the WIAA Division 2 state title in 2012, counts heavily Zubich, a three-year starter who competes with great basketball instincts while also scoring at a high level ... Sample has turned in a very strong junior season after growing several inches over the past 12 months.
Coach's Comments: "Perimeter shooting, ball handling and experience are strengths. This group is highly skilled and committed. We do lack size so reobunding is always a concern."
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Stevens Point Panthers
Coach: Scott Anderson, 7th year
Enrollment: 2,078
Top Players: Trev Anderson (6-2, Sr., 26.8 ppg, 4.7 apg), Sam Hauser (6-6, Sr., 18.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Joey Hauser (6-7, Soph., 18.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Jamison Kryshak (5-11, Sr., 3.7 ppg), Jake Hofmeister (6-0, Sr., 3.4 ppg), Drew Blair (6-2, Soph., 4.3 ppg), Evan Mallek (6-3, Sr., 2.8 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 15-0 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Panthers are ranked No. 1 among Division 1 schools in Wisconsin behind the stellar play of the state's top two senniors -- Trev Anderson and Sam Hauser ... Anderson has signed with Green Bay while Hauser is headed to Marquette ... Both players are four-year starters and clutch players for Stevens Point, which also features the state's top-ranked sophomore in 6-foot-7 forward Joey Hauser, the younger brother of Sam ... Stevens Point is the defending WIAA Division 1 state champion.
Coach's Comments: "Shooting, passing, ball security, defense, togetherness, experience and depth are strengths. Interior defense and rebounding are our concerns."
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MINNESOTA TEAMS
Spring Grove Lions
Coach: Wade Grinde
Enrollment: 77
Top Players: Chase Grinde (6-3, Jr., 22.3 ppg), Alex Engelhardt (6-3, Sr., 10.9 ppg), Brock Schuttemeier (6-2, Jr., 9.8 ppg), Brady Schuttemeier (6-3, Sr., 9.8 ppg), Alex Folz (5-9, Frosh., 7.2 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 16-1 (Through Jan. 26)
Notes: The Lions compete in the 11-team Southeast Conference and are ranked No. 2 among Class 1A schools in Minnesota ... The Lions lost a 69-66 decision to Lake Mills in the Tri-State Border Battle held January 9 at the Just A Game Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells.
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Lake City Tigers
Coach: Greg Berge
Enrollment: 350
Top Players: Brady Kuchinka (5-11, Sr., 23.2 ppg), Marc Kjos (5-9, Soph., 10.4 ppg), Eli Custer (6-3, Sr., 9.0 ppg), Jesse Oliver (6-0, Sr., 8.4 ppg), Mitch Marien (5-8, Jr., 5.2 ppg), Matt Kjos (6-0, Sr., 3.8 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 16-3 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Tigers are ranked No. 4 among 2A schools in Minnesota and compete in the Gold Division of the Hiawatha Valley Conference.
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Tartan Titans
Coach: Mark Klingsporn
Enrollment: 1,382
Top Players: Jordan Horn (6-2, Jr., 16.9 ppg), Joevon Walker (6-4, Jr., 11.3 ppg), Noah Whalen (6-3, Jr., 10.8 ppg), Elijah Johnson (6-4, Sr., 9.5 ppg), Jarvis Thomas (6-7, Soph., 9.3 ppg), Jordan Thompson (6-1, Jr., 7.3 ppg), Kingston Myles (6-2, Jr., 6.0 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 14-4 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: The Titans compete in the highly competitive Metro East Conference ... Horn is receiving NCAA Division I recruiting interest from North Dakota State and South Dakota State, among others.
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DeLaSalle Islanders
Coach: Dave Thorson
Enrollment: 696
Top Players: Gabe Kalscheur (6-3, Soph., 20.5 ppg), Goanar Mar (6-7, Jr., 19.0 ppg), Sage Booker (6-0, Soph., 7.8 ppg), Sam Jones (6-0, Sr., 7.9 ppg), Christian Dickson (6-2, Soph., 5.6 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 11-3 (Through games of Jan. 25)
Notes: DeLaSalle has won the past four class 3A state championships in Minnesota and competes in the Tri-Metro West Conference ... The Islanders are ranked No. 1 among class 3A schools this season ... Mar is a three-start recruit on Scout.com and has interest from Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette, Minnesota and Wisconsin, among others ... Kalscheur is also receiving interest from several NCAA DI programs.
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Minneapolis North Polars
Coach: Larry McKenzie
Enrollment: 199
Top Players: ODell Wilson IV (6-5, Soph., 13.6 ppg), Isaac Johnson (6-4, Jr., 13.7 ppg), Jamil Jackson (6-6, Sr., 14.4 ppg), Patrick Dembley (6-3, Sr., 14.6 ppg), Ahzerik Rodgers (6-1, Jr., 7.9 ppg), JaQuan Sanders-Smith (6-1, Jr., 8.9 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 16-4 (Through games of Jan. 26)
Notes: Minneapolis North is ranked No. 1 among 1A schools in Minnesota and competes in the Minneapolis City Conference ... Minneapolis North lost to Hopkins, 98-96, on Jan. 19. Hopkins is the top-ranked Class 4A school in Minnesota.
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Minnetonka Skippers
Coach: Jerry Kline Jr.
Enrollment: 1,273
Top Players: Amar Miller (5-9, Sr., 23.4 ppg), Seth Coatta (6-3, Sr., 16.6 ppg), Max Cooper (6-5, Sr., 11.3 ppg), Cedric Boone (6-0, Sr., 12.9 ppg), Burt Hedstrom (6-3, Jr., 6.9 ppg), Matt Haas (6-4, Jr., 5.3 ppg).
2015-16 Record: 13-6 (Through games of Jan. 25)
Notes: Minnetonka is a 4A school that competes in the Lake Conference ... Coatta has committed to NCAA Division I North Dakota State.
At Onalaska High School.
January 30, 2016
11:00 a.m. -- Marshfield Columbus Catholic (WI) vs. Spring Grove (MN)
12:45 p.m. -- Westby (WI) vs. Lake City (MN)
2:30 p.m. -- Eau Claire Memorial (WI) vs. Tartan (MN)
4:15 p.m. -- La Crosse Central (WI) vs. DeLaSalle (MN)
6:00 p.m. -- Onalaska (WI) vs. Minneapolis North (MN)
7:45 p.m. -- Stevens Point (WI) vs. Minnetonka (MN)
Tag(s): Border Battle
