2016 Border Battle Observations

Its the 2016 Border Battle.  This year hosted by Onalaska, WI.  Good crowds on hand all day.  4 ranked teams representing each state.  Here are some of the day's highlights.

Game 1: #2A Spring Grove vs #3 D5 Marshfield Columbus
Spring Grove's Brady Schuttemeier would knock down 5 early 3s as the Lions built an early double digit lead.  That lead would expand to 22.  Columbus would cut it to 16 at the half.  Tyler Fuerlinger would have a big 2nd half for Columbus on his way to a career high 32 points.  Spring Grove star Chase Grinde would have a big half of his own.  The outcome never really in doubt.  Spring Grove wins 83-69 to give Columbus their 1st loss of the season.  Brady Schuttemeier finishes with those 5 3s and 25 points.  Chase Grinde also ends with 25.

Game 2: #4AA Lake City vs Westby
Westby's 1-3-1 zone gave Lake City some problems early.  Then Marc Kjos came off the bench and made 4 straight 3s late in the 1st half.  Big run for the Tigers puts them up 7 at the half.  The Lake City lead would get to 12 but there was no answer for Jesse Solberg.  He leads 12-0 Westby run and we're back to even at 46 with 8:45 left.  Westby extends the lead to 55-51 but then it falls apart.  Marc Kjos with another bomb.  Brady Kuchinka had been quiet all day but he comes huge in the last 2 minutes.  He buries a 3, then a steal for 2 and 2 bonus free throws to put Lake City over the top.  Lake City wins 63-57.  Marc Kjos 6 3s for 18 points off the Lake City bench.  Eli Custer and Brady Kuchinka 14 each.  Jesse Solberg with a career high 31 to lead Westby.

Game 3: Tartan vs Eau Claire Memorial
This game was unique for the case where both teams made a trip longer than what it would have been to have one of them host the game.  Jordan Horn sits the last 9:51 and Jarvis Thomas the last 8:19 of the 1st half with 2 fouls.  Horn with a couple of early 3s before that to put Tartan ahead.  Darian Dieckman with 4 3s in the half for Memorial for a 32-18 halftime lead.

Jordan Thompson 4 of his 5 3s for Tartan in the 2nd half.  Memorial star Isaac Appleby would score their last 8 points of regulation including a nice pullup with 10 seconds left to force overtime.  Tie game with 1:50 left in the OT.  Tartan patient and they end up holding right until the end.  Its a kickout to Kingston Myles for the game winning 3 with 2.4 seconds left in the OT.  Tartan wins 64-61 in overtime.  Jordan Horn 17, Jordan Thompson 15 with 5 3s.  Isaac Appleby with 20, Darian Dieckman 5 3s 18 points for Eau Claire Memorial.

Game 4: #1AAA De La Salle vs #5 D2 La Crosse Central
Central comes out triangle and 2 on Goanar Mar and Gabe Kalscheur.  Then when Mar sits the last 8:29 of the first half, they'll stay box and 1 on Kalscheur.  That slowed down the De La Salle offense and Wisconsin recruit Kobe King had it going on the other end.  19 in the 1st half for King to help Central to a 29-26 halftime lead.  De La Salle's defense locks down in the 2nd half as they hold Central to 1 basket in a 9 minute stretch.  46-39 De La Salle with 3 minutes left.  King with 4 tough hoops down the stretch as Central tries to make a comeback.  De La Salle hangs on 56-51.  Kobe King outstanding with 32 points.  But only 1 other Red Raider had more than 5 before the final 30 seconds.  Sage Booker with 15 to lead De La Salle.  Samm Jones with 14.  The Kalscheur and Mar combo held to a combined 14.

Game 5: #1A Minneapolis North vs #10 D2 Onalaska
Jamil Jackson runs for a dunk, Patrick Dembley 2 3s and a lob to Jackson for a dunk.  16-8 North early and the rout appears to be on.  Onalaska hangs around with 3 3s later in the half to keep the margin at 31-24 at the break.  Tyler Johnson with a nasty dip dunk and another power dunk to keep the lead at 10.  Tyler Hughes with a big half for Onalaska.  He hits a 3, Noah Frederickson hits a 3 and a 3 point play from Tyler Turriff brings the Hilltoppers back.  North lead down to 60-55 with 6:11 left.  But North scores the next 7 to push the lead back to double digits.  Hughes with a 3 and 4 free throws to cut it back to 8 with 2:25 left.  North would finish the game on a 14-0 run to win 84-62.

Game 6: Minnetonka vs #1 D1 Stevens Point
Tough matchup for Minnetonka drawing the defending state champions and top ranked Panthers who handled Champlin Park a couple of weeks ago.  This one was the Trev Anderson show.  The UWGB recruit scored 25 of his 31 points in the first half.  Joey Hauser with 22, Marquette commit Sam Hauser added 20 despite early foul trouble.  Amar Miller leads Minnetonka with 21.  Nice outing for Cedric Boone with 19.

Bonus Friday Game: Armstrong at Park Center
Park Center with 7 3s in the 1st half against the Falcons man defense.  So Armstrong being down 3 decides to switch to an active 3-2 zone for the 2nd half.  Park Center did a great job of moving the ball, but Armstrong was flying all over to try to run the Pirates off the 3 point line.  Park Center up 3 after 2 FTs with 59.8 to play.  Armstrong trying to rally.  An inbounds home run finds True Thompson for a tough catch and finish.  The free throw no good.  Jump ball to Park Center before they miss a front end.  They grab the miss but turn it over.  Out of a timeout, a long SLOB pass finds True Thompson for 2 more and Armstrong grabs the lead with 31 seconds left.  Park Center misses and Chance Bowen makes 2 for a 3 point lead.  Park Center misses a 3 short and its back to the charity stripe.  Armstrong misses 2 with 8.2 left and a chance to seal it but they get the rebound back.  True Thompson misses 1st but makes 2nd to seal it.  Armstrong wins 61-57 via a 7-0 run in the last minute.  Losini Kamara 18, Derrick Ogechi 16 for Park Center.  True Thompson leads Armstrong with 12 points.  Isaiah Rollins with 11 off the bench. Race Thompson held to 11 points and no field goals in the 2nd half.  Malcolm Lawson very physical with him and Race wasn't away from the basket much where he could use a quickness advantage.