Iowa vs Wisconsin Border Battle

Seems like I'm always late on posting my blogs because I simply don't have time to post them or am at a game or something else comes up. I apologize for this because it causes my blogs to be lacking in content and also in quality many times because I simply can't remember things that happened in games. Anyway this past Saturday I took in the Border Battle of Iowa vs Wisconsin, there are so many "Border Battles" that its hard to tell which one your talking about but, the true one will not be until February in Prior Lake this year. Even though they are copying other evens that are fun because you can see how our states top teams match up with other states top teams and allows you to see teams that you probably never would of seen otherwise. This was also a nice event because it was right in my backyard and was only four games so only afternoon night thing, not an all day event.


Dubuque Senior 57 Verona 45

Like most tournaments the early games are kind of sleeper games and as the day goes on the games get gradually better. In this one I really thought Verona would get blown out but, they did manage to hang around even though Dubuque really have a superior height advantage but, never really used that advantage. This was a very slow paced game and Verona just didn't have the quickness to break the Dubuque defense down and Dubuque just kind of methodically put this one away. At times Dubueque would whose their size to score against Verona's 2-3 zone defense. Not a whole lot more to say about this game and like I said earlier was kind of a sleeper.

Top Players
Mitch Flora 6'2 junior Verona- Was one of the few bright spots for Verona. Flora struggled from the outside but, was able to drive to the hoop and score and when he wasn't making the baskets he was able to draw contact and get to the free throw line and score.
Kyle Haber 6'7 junior Dubuque- A very big guard that showed the ability from shoot from the outside and was able to drive to the hoop and finish with either hand.
Lucas Legrand 6'5 junior Dubuque- Didn't look like a real impressive player but, he just seemed to have a nose for the ball. Got a ton of rebounds, dove on loose balls, and just always seemed to be in the right place to score.
Top Scorers
V- Flora 19 Andrew Argall 9 Jake Toman 5
DS- Haber 18 Legrand 13 Kyle Holdridge 7 Josh Weeber 7


Wisconsin Dells 61 Cedar Rapids Washington 44

The difference in this game was the Dells defense. Rapids was unable to get the ball inside which resulted in having to take a lot of three point shots, which resulted in long defensive rebounds or forcing the ball inside and turning the ball over. No matter which of the two results happened the Chiefs would immediately push the ball and get easy fast break points. When the Chiefs did have to run an offense they were shooting threes like Rapids but, more by choice and their shots were falling. If you haven't seen Wisconsin Dells play you only need to know two things, they are going to push the tempo and they are going to shoot a lot of threes. If one of those two things aren't working then they are going to struggle. Dells doesn't have a lot of size but, neither did Rapids so the host school was able to control the glass on both sides.

Top Players
Shane Wimann 6'4 senior Dells- Was the biggest player on the court and it showed as he was able to control the boards on both ends of the court and was able to score inside and outside.
MJ Delmore 5'11 senior Dells- Struggled a bit in this game but, did a good job of initiating the offense and drawing contact and getting to the line.
Razadon Taylor 6'3 junior CRW- Provided some nice energy off the bench scoring off of offensive rebounds and getting out and running. Also had a big block in the game.
Top Scorers
WD- Wimann 19 Delmore 15 Colyn Buss 11
CRW- Nehemiah Newman 12 Taylor 10 Brock Butterfield 7


Danville 65 Randolph 40

This game was billed as a huge game featuring the number one team in the smallest division of each state going head to head. Unfortunately the teams didn't get the message as Danville jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Danville played a zone defense and Randolph just seemed content to just pass the ball around the outside and waste time and once they got down their seemed little or no chance that they would be able to get back in this game. I thought Randolph would pick the zone apart getting the ball to the free throw line and working from their as I had seen Randolph teams done countless times before. Randolph looked to get to the free throw line but, the Danville back line players did a great job coming up and denying the free throw line entry pass and too many times Randolph settled for threes. Danville was extremely impressive on the offensive end as they really moved the ball well and Randolph had no one to guard Danville's two stars a pair of twins Steven and Michael Soukup. I didn't have heights for these guys but, I'd guess around 6'4 and they just moved so well and had a great combination of size and quickness. When one of the Soukup's shot the ball you knew it was going in and it seemed that they could get by anyone anytime they wanted.

Top Players
Duke Vander Galien 5'7 sophomore Randolph- Not a great game but, he was one of the only guys that had much for positives. Hit a couple threes and showed some ability to drive to the inside of the zone and score.
Steven Soukup senior Danville- Just couldn't miss from the outside as he hit three after three and it didn't matter if anyone was in his face or not.
Michael Soukup senior Danville- Shot almost as well as his brother and was the teams point guard as well. Had the ability to just drive by his defender at anytime and usually found an open brother.
Top Scorers
R- Vander Galien 9 Aaron Retzlaff 8 Jay Peters 7
D- S Soukup 28 M Soukup 20 Connor Hogberg 7


Iowa City West 59 Sun Prairie 55

This game really lived up to the pregame hype and was a very intense game. This was completely a game of runs as Sun Prairie throw the first punch jumping out to an early lead and then West fought back and took a half time lead before West throw a final come back punch very late in the game and won a thrilling game. West had a pair of D1 stars, according to the fans I was sitting next two but, the two stars didn't really show up at least in the box score. There was no doubt that these guys were great talents but, it was the rest of the team particularly their shooters. Sun Prairie is another team that played a zone defense and West moved the ball very well and always seemed to find an open shooter who would normally knock the shot down. For Sun Prairie, just like every game it was the two Nick's that carried them in Fuller and Noskowiak. Fuller continues to struggle with his outside shot a bit but, he has really improved on driving the ball to the hoop. Noskowiak continues to really impress me with his ability to make shots when he has a defender on his.

Top Scorers
Nick Fuller 6'7 senior Sun Prairie- Did hit a pair of threes but, really showed a great ability to drive to the hoop and finish with either hand.
Nick Noskowiak 6'3 sophomore Sun Prairie- I love how he can get his shot off at anytime and can hit his shots weather theres some one in his face or not. Is also able to really handle the ball very well now.
Jeremy Morgan 6'6 senior IC West- Didn't score a ton but, did a great job guarding Fuller and running the West offense.
Wyatt Lohaus 6'1 junior IC West- Very tough shooter who showed the ability to knock down the spot up three as well as fake the shot and dribble to the open spot and hit his shot.
Austin Swank 6'1 Senior IC West- Another sharp shooter that always found himself open where he was able to hit the big three point shot.
Top Scorers
SP- Fuller 24 Noskowiak 19 Craig Evans 6
IWC- Lohaus 15 Swank 13 Myzeah Batie-Gaddy 12

Really was a great day of basketball but, unfortunately Wisconsin lost 1-3 with the only win coming from the host school. In fairness to Wisconsin though Danville would probably easy beat anytime in D5 with ease in Wisconsin and they are a team that comes around once every 20 years or so with the Soukup brothers and then Iowa City West who is a defending state champion and will probably push for another state title again.