Recap of the 2nd Annual Border Battle
January 26, 2008 -- Held at Verona Area High School (near Madison, WS)
By Ryan James - The Weekly Word

Maranatha Christian Academy vs Barneveld

David Hanson opened up on fire for MCA and never let up. He hit four crossover step-back jumpers from about 18 feet and quickly caught the attention of all those in attendance. Hanson, a Cal Poly D-1 commit, scored on the inside and basically showed his fundamental skill as well as his versatility with an array of production. He and Tyler Campion scored all the points in the first quarter helping build a double-digit lead.

Barneveld made a run with their full court press but they went on a drought at the end of the game scoring only seven points in the game’s last 12 minutes. Hanson was steady the rest of the way controlling the glass and finishing with a game high 27 points and 16 rebounds. Campion scored 17 himself and Maranatha stayed undefeated with a 65-41 victory. Trent Sullivan’s 11 points led Barneveld.

Rockford vs Marshall

Marshall used their size advantage to jump on Rockford 17-7 early. Mike Boebel created for his teammates in the half court set and with three guys standing 6-foot-6 and four inches taller then the biggest Rocket, they took advantage with simple looks around the basket.

But Rockford would switch to a zone defense in the second quarter and the game took an entirely new turn. The activity of the Rockets instantly got a boost and they pushed in their transition game taking advantage of every Marshall mistake, and every Marshall make as they just were not getting back on defense quick enough.

Luke Mernin scored a game high 27 points with several assists as nobody on the floor could catch the man. His pushes opened up teammates for several looks including Luke’s brother Mike who scored on three straight possessions. Nick Haugen hit a couple threes, Nate Maher scored inside, and then Luke continued to push the ball himself for baskets. At the half Rockford was up four points but they pushed that lead to 16 by the end of the third quarter. The Rockets then continued to score at will and won the game 88-61.

Nick Haugen was the catalyst early as he scored seven straight points and dished to teammates on the break when Rockford was turning a ten-point deficit into a big lead. Nick scored 16.

Princeton vs Waupun

Waupun’s Ryan Rasmussen hit the Tigers hard early with three jumpers and Aris Wurtz hit two himself for a fast 11 point start prompting a time-out less then one minute into the game. Things were moving fast and furious as Princeton was able to survive the initial onslaught. Jared Berggren was fed the ball on the lower right block and he scored eight field goals in the first half just turning hard over the right shoulder and finishing with his touch. The Tigers were down at this point, as Rasmussen and Wurtz had combined for 43 of their 45 first half point, but not yet out.

Then Waupun entered the second half with a new gameplan. Rasmussen had already put up 25 points in the first half but it wasn’t enough to keep the Tigers from clawing back. So Waupun went with the sandwich style of defense guarding Jared with two players, one in the front and one in the back. And whenever there looked to be a chance that Princeton may still be able to get him the ball a third defender would join the group. With Jared getting all the attention Princeton’s wing players had guys wide open for jumpers but none could make a shot. Combine that with Wurtz catching fire and this game got ugly quickly.

Berggren scored 16 in the first half but scored no more the rest of the way, as he wasn’t even able to touch the ball. Waupun put on a shooting performance that you just don’t see very much. Wurtz hit seven three-pointers, Rasmussen sunk six, and as a team they had 16 made three-pointers. Rasmussen ended with a scoring total of 30 points while Wurtz scored 29 and Waupun demolished Princeton 81-41.

Minnetonka vs Madison Memorial

This was the most exciting match-up of the Border Battle and there was a ton of talent on the floor for both teams. At the end of the first half it was a 31-31 tie with both teams putting on fun exhibitions. Anthony Tucker sunk three first half three-pointers and his smooth as silk jumper was on fire. Plus Madison continued to lose him on defense so Tucker made them pay. But the Skippers had no answer for Memorial junior Jeronne Maymon. Tonka was working hard to defend and was playing well but Jeronne just dominated the offensive glass and had scored some off the bounce as well.

The second half would become Memorial’s game as some things changed and some things stayed the same. What changed was the Tonka offensive execution and some of their defensive efforts. Spartan Derek Nkemnji was all over Tucker in the second half and his long arms and athletic ability had Skipper players looking in other directions with the basketball. And way to often those other directions became turnovers or quick shots. Meanwhile, Maymon simply owned the paint and it was continual. The Skippers had nobody present that could keep him off the glass and it made a huge difference. Jeronne finished with 30 points as Memorial left Verona with a very good victory between two teams ranked number two in their state.

Tartan vs Verona

This game had a different flow compared to the other match-ups of the day. For one, both teams play hard-nosed defense and love to grind out the game. The other factor in this game was the officials. Of the three-man crew one of the refs was sick and had to leave. So the other pair had to make up the difference and one guy more then did his part, in a boring way with his never ending whistle. Tartan star Marc Sonnen would sit almost the entire first half in foul trouble although those fouls were not the fault of the ref as Marc had some mental mistakes there.

Inside Verona’s Jason Ziemer was playing like a warrior inside and with all three of the Tartan big men on the bench in foul trouble he had his way. And when the Titan bigs came back into the game Ziemer had his way dominating the paint to the tune of 31 points and a player of the game trophy. Ziemer’s rugged play in the post his him listed as one of the top 50 juniors in the state of Wisconsin and he was the big reason that Verona never relinquished the lead against Tartan.

But even for basketball lovers of any kind, Tartan flavored or Verona spirited, this second half was about as dull as sitting through math lectures. Both teams were in the bonus way to fast and it was free throw after free throw. The problem for Verona became their free throw shooting as they just couldn’t put Tartan away and Sonnen had came back with a very strong second half. Marc could not be stopped from getting deep into the lane as he scored 17 points and created numerous shots for teammates who struggled to swish in the second half.

Then with about ten seconds remaining it was a three-point game with Sonnen looking to attack in the half court set. The Border Battle was coming down to this play. It was a three-point game and Minnesota won the first two games with Wisconsin winning the second pair. Marc had just hit a three and a jumper on previous possessions and he was feeling it. The game was 67-64; the moment had everybody standing and the play opened up. And…a moving screen call. Really ref? He had blown the whistle for 50 foul calls already and had to do it one more time when this boring game was finally getting interesting. And it had to be for this lame duck call that could be barely classified as marginal. Verona wins 68-64 in a battle of well coached 11-2 basketball teams.

Wisconsin wins 1st annual Border Battle over Minnesota, 3-2

By Mark Miller
WBY Editor
Posted Jan. '07

Following are results from the inaugural Border Battle, held Jan. 27, 2007 at Tartan High School in Oakdale, Minn. The Border Battle is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook and The Breakdown of Minnesota.

Division 4 Matchup
St. Bernard's of St. Paul, Minn. 73, Randolph 64

Marquette University recruit Trevor Mbakwe scored 28 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots Saturday afternoon to lead Minnesota's top-ranked Division 4 school, St. Bernard's of St. Paul, Minn., to a victory over Wisconsin's top-ranked Division 4 school, Randolph. Mbakwe was named the MVP of the contest.

St. Bernard's (14-0) took a 34-29 lead at halftime before extending its lead in the second half behind the strong play of Mbakwe and seniors Chad Jones and Patrick Cassidy.

Mbakwe had several thunderous dunks for St. Bernard's, which had a difficult time breaking away from disciplined and well-coached Randolph, which fell 12-2 on the season.

Jones finished with 16 points and Cassidy added 14 as St. Bernard's beat a Wisconsin school for the third time this season after toppling Wauwatosa West and Marquette University High School in the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout in December.

Randolph was led by senior Dan Tillema as the 6-4 Minnesota-Duluth recruit scored 23 points and knocked down a pair of three point baskets.

Junior Bryan Johnson added 14 points for Randolph, while freshman Kyle Kelm added 12 and sophomore Tyler Tillema 11.

St. Bernard's 73, Randolph 64

St. Bernard's (34-39 = 73)
Duncan 1, Morrissey 3, Cassidy 14, Davis 10, Jones 16, Mbakwe 28.

Randolph (29-35 = 64)
Tyler Tillema 11, Dan Tillema 22, Johnson 14, Biel 3, Kelm 12, Heitzman 2.

Division 3 Matchup
La Crosse Aquinas 93, Rockford, Minn., 68

Marquette University recruit Scott Christopherson scored 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out six assists as unbeaten and top-ranked Aquinas handled Rockford. Christopherson was named the MVP of the contest.

Christopherson made 9 of 18 shots from the floor and all six of his free throw attempts as Aquinas improved to 14-0.

The Blugolds also received a very strong performance from senior Luke Umberger, who finished with 21 points.

Aquinas took a 43-31 lead at intermission and slowly built on its lead in the second half as Wisconsin teams evened the Border Battle series with Minnesota at 1-1.

La Crosse Aquinas (43-50 = 93)
Morrissey 7, Fahey 12, Papke 14, Ruff 5, Rickaway 8, Christopherson 26, Umberger 21, Charles 2.

Rockford (31-37 = 69)
Maher 14, L. Mernin 7, Haugen 15, M. Mernin 13, Riedberger 2, Hanson 4, Luhmann 2, Dorrel 2, Nelson 4.

Division 2 Matchup
Seymour 73, Minneapolis Patrick Henry 66

Seymour senior Matt Hackl unleashed three consecutive three-point baskets in a decisive second-half flurry to lead the Thunder past Patrick Henry.

Hackl finished with 28 points and four three-pointers en route to be named MVP of the contest.

Seymour senior Marc Leisgang also turned in a very solid performance for the surging Thunder, scoring 24 points and knocking down five triples.

Senior Brandon Kuchta added 11 points as Seymour was able to handle the quickness and full-court press employed by Patrick Henry.

University of Minnesota recruit Al Nolen Jr., had 11 points for Patrick Henry, but struggled finding his shooting touch throughout the contest.

Seymour (38-35 = 73)
Braun 4, Cornelius 6, Kuchta 11, Hackl 28, Leisgang 24.

Patrick Henry (32-34 = 66)
Jackson 6, Saxon 5, Cox 3, Hughes 18, Sweezy 14, Mitchell 2, Nolen 11, Whitfield 7.

Division 1 Matchup
Minnetonka, Minn., 73, Madison Memorial 61

The Skippers of Minnetonka improved to 10-5 on the season with an impressive team performance against second-ranked Madison Memorial.

Four underclassmen scored in double figures for Minnetonka, led by MVP Andy Burns, a quick 6-0 point guard who finished with 18 points.

Junior Anthony Tucker had 16 for Minnetonka, including two huge three-point baskets late in the second half.

Jeronne Maymon led Memorial with 27 points, while 6-8 senior Keaton Nankivil finished with 23.

Nankivil left the game with just over two minutes left after sustaining a cut above his eye. He returned with 1:37 left, but was unable to help the Spartans overcome the Skippers.

The Border Battle is tied 2-2 heading into the final game of the night between host Tartan and Wisconsin Rapids.

Minnetonka (39-34 = 73)
Burns 18, Erickson 4, Latzke 16, Schilling 10, Udo 3, Tucker 16, Nelson 6.

Madison Memorial (28-33 = 61)
J. Maymon 27, Nankivil 23, Nelson 4, D. Maymon 2, Richgels 2, Ringhand 3.

Division 1 Matchup
Wisconsin Rapids 59, Oakdale, Minn., Tartan 44

Senior Vinny Ritchay scored 22 points as Wisconsin Rapids held off a late three-point barrage by Tartan to post a convincing victory and give Wisconsin a 3-2 edge in the first Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle.

Wisconsin Rapids took a 25-14 lead at intermission and maintained at least a six-point advantage the rest of the way in improving to 10-4 on the season.

Ritchay, who was named the MVP of the contest, finished with nine field goals, but did not make a three-point basket.

Senior Bobby Bailey had a strong first half and finished with 17 points for the Red Raiders.

Wisconsin Rapids (25-34 = 59)
Ritchay 22, Goska 6, Slovensky 6, Long 6, Bailey 17, Heuer 2.

Tartan (14-30 = 44)
Sonnen 9, Brant 5, Peters 8, RYan 11, Linaman 3, Pritschet 6, Hoverson 2.