2019 Border Battle Thoughts

One of the high profile events on my schedule every year is the Border Battle.  This year Minnesota hosted at East Ridge.  All but 1 of the 7 games featuring a ranked team and 9 of the teams being ranked.  Concessions right inside of the gym instead of the usual hike across the cafeteria.  Only Coke products but that's a minor hardship. 

Game 1: #4A Minnesota Valley Lutheran 58 Thorp 45
I only saw the last couple minutes of this.  Notable day in front of the Mr Basketball Committee for MVL's Jake Kettner with 33 points.  22 points for junior forward Isaac Soumis to lead Thorp.

Game 2: #7AA Lake City 73 #3 D4 Clear Lake 54
Clear Lake played without star forward Bailey Blanchard due to a sprained MCL.  But the way the game played out I don't think it would have mattered much.  Lake City buries 8 of their 12 3s in the 1st half to break the game open and they cruise.  Reid Gastner doing it inside and out for Lake City.  I totally agree with Ryan James that he's a small school matchup nightmare.  He had 27 points with 3 bombs, 8 free throws and a handful of quality post moves.  He added 7 boards and 4 assists.  Nate Heise 23 points with 5 bombs, 5 boards and 5 assists.

Game 3: St. Croix Lutheran 82 Whitefish Bay 74
St. Croix Lutheran gets all of but 5 their points from 4 guys.  But with their small lineup the Crusaders bury 15 of 31 triples.  SCL goes the last 9:05 of the 1st half without Zach Longueville due to 3 fouls but they only trail by 4 at the break.  Longueville goes for 17 of his 26 in the 2nd half.. Xavier Garcia with 13 of his 14 in the 2nd half thanks to clutch shooting (3 3s).  Ezra Blumer adds 5 bombs and 20 points plus his defensive role.  Owen Bushaw adds 17.  Soph Jayden Jackson impressive for Whitefish Bay with 21 points and a couple of 3s.  Demetrius Johnson adds 15, Cullen Starker with 16.

Game 4: #2 D3 Waupun 94 Rochester Mayo 68
Waupun shoots a thoroughly ridiculous 40 of 57 for the game.  Northern Kentucky signee Marcus Domask (#1 ranked senior in WI) with a triple double of 19 pts, 14 rbs and 11 assists.  MN-Crookston signee Quintin Winterfeldt 22 pts, 8 rbs and 6 ast in a terrific outing.  Mayo's Gabe Madsen showing that he's one of the elite scorers in the state. He made a bunch of tough shots on his way to 31 points on 12 of 25 shooting.  Mason Madsen 17 points and 8 rebounds in a day where he struggled to 6 of 19 FGs.  But he also had the tough task of guarding Domask all day.

Game 5: #8 D1 Brookfield Central 91 Apple Valley 59
Apple Valley would hang around in the 1st half to trail by 8 at the break.  They experimented with multiple lineups by playing 11 guys.  But in the 2nd half it got totally out of hand.  Post Riley LeTourneau goes for 20 of his 34 in the 1st half for Brookfield Central.  Michael Poker 5 3s and 17 points in the fantastic Joe Rux motion offense.  Soph Monty Williams with 13 points off the bench to lead Apple Valley.  Mark Possis all 12 of his points for Apple Valley in the 1st half.

Game 6: #1AA Minnehaha 76 #6 D2 Onalaska 60
4 straight buckets off turnovers for Minnehaha would be an omen for the game.  The pressure that Minnehaha can put on with their athletic guards and know that they have a big time shotblocker in the back is scary.  20-4 run for the Redhawks over the last 7:08 of the 1st half would mean a 38-18 lead at the break.  Onalaska 6 of 32 FG shooting in the half.  Some of that was missed open looks, much of it was the impact of Chet Holmgren.  But Onalaska would go on a 12-0 2nd half run and cut the lead to 7 with over 6 minutes left.  Then a 3 to get closer with 5:25 left goes in and out.  Jalen Suggs takes over from there with 6 free throws.  Suggs with another outstanding outing of 27 pts, 7 rbs, 8 ast.  Chet Holmgren 18 points, 15 boards and 7 blocks.  Carson Arenz 17 points to lead the Hilltoppers.

Game 7: #4AAAA East Ridge 80 #1 D1 Brookfield Central 62
Gage Malensek has mastered the left side right hand scoop.  That move was unstoppable all night as he scored a team high 21 for the Lancers.  Star soph David Joplin started slow but had a nice 2nd half to finish with 13 points.  No other offense for the Lancers though.  Zach Zebrowski was the big story for East Ridge.  16 of his 18 points in the 1st half.  That included a crazy behind the back finish to beat the buzzer after a Ben Carlson block.  He also had 5 assists.  Kendall Brown with 16 of his 20 points in the 2nd half.  Ben Carlson with 18 points and 15 rebounds as he too stepped up in the 2nd half.  Patrick Lynott with 4 big 3s for 12 points on the night.


The Wrap
Minnesota wins the Border Battle for the 4th time in 5 years.  The 5-2 record improves Minnesota's all time margin over 13 years to 48-31.  Next year the Border Battle visits the Czar's alma mater La Crosse Central.  Onalaska will also participate again.  Kaukauna will also return to the event after participating the last 2 years and hosting in 2014.