Prep basketball: Minnesota sweeps border battle for first time – Reuters Sports News

By Jennifer E. Alvarado Last updated Mar 30, 2022

DULUTH — Fans packed Romano Gym Tuesday in Minnesota Duluth for the 14th annual Duluth Area Youth Basketball Association Border Battle High School All-Star Game.

For the first time in the game’s history — the event has been canceled for the past two years — Minnesota teams swept the boys’ and girls’ games.

Minnesota’s Conner Barney, right, of Cloquet runs past Wisconsin’s CJ Thompson of Northwestern for a bucket in the first half of DAYBA’s 14th Annual Boundary Battle at Romano Gymnasium on Tuesday night March 29, 2022 in Duluth.

Jed Carlson / Upper Telegram

Conner Barney of Cloquet and Taryn Hamling of Grand Rapids each had a game-high 27 points en route to earning respective MVP honors.

Northwestern’s Monte Mayberry was Wisconsin’s top homegrown player with 17 points.

Wisconsin's Monte Mayberry of Northwestern shoots a jumper over Minnesota's Joe Peterson (11) of Barnum — Wisconsin’s Monte Mayberry of Northwestern shoots a jumper over Minnesota’s Joe Peterson (11) of Barnum in the first half of DAYBA’s 14th Annual Battle of the Borders at Romano Gymnasium on Tuesday night March 29, 2022 in Duluth.

The Minnesota Girls outscored Wisconsin 70-64 and the Minnesota Boys edged their opponents 121-93.

The win was just the third in 12 tries for the Minnesota girls, but it was their second straight win after winning the 2019 game 95-56.

Grand Rapids coach and Taryn’s mother, Kris Hamling, was on hand to watch and said the best part was watching all the rivals come together at the end of the season.

“You get Ashlynne Guenther from Duluth East and Payton Rodberg from Proctor,” Kris said. “There are all these players that I’m scouting against and we’re trying to quit and now they’re working together. It’s a huge, amazing thing to see.

Minnesota's Payton Rodberg, left, of Proctor, looks to score in the post on Wisconsin's Jordyn Delegan, of Mellen, — Minnesota’s Payton Rodberg, left, of Proctor, looks to score in the post on Jordyn Delegan, of Wisconsin, of Mellen during DAYBA’s 14th Annual Boundary Battle at Romano Gymnasium on Tuesday night, March 29, 2022 in Duluth .

After the two-year hiatus, DAYBA added a few new features to the game, according to board member Jim Schwarzbauer.

First, DAYBA awarded two $500 scholarships to Jasper Timm from Duluth Marshall and Brynn Olson from Rice Lake. Both had to write an essay on the impact of basketball on their lives and get a letter of recommendation.

Schwarzbauer noted that although Timm and Olson participated in the border battle, it is not a requirement for the scholarship.

Second, with mental health concerns that have emerged during the pandemic, DAYBA has partnered with “Smiles for Jake,” a Brainerd-based nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention. It was started by Jake Haapajoki’s family after he took his own life in 2018.

“It was brought on by the ever-escalating mental health issues that plagued us as we went through this thing,” Schwarzbauer said. “Smiles for Jake just has a very clear distinct message. They had a number of people here tonight and they’re helping out however they can.

Minnesota's Natalie Mikrot, right, of Moose Lake/Willow River, brings the ball to the ground while Wisconsin's Reanna Hutchinson, of Eau Claire North, — Minnesota’s Natalie Mikrot, right, of Moose Lake/Willow River, brings the ball to the ground as Wisconsin’s Reanna Hutchinson, of Eau Claire North, guards it during DAYBA’s 14th Annual Boundary Battle at Romano Gymnasium on Tuesday evening, March 29, 2022, in Duluth.

Wisconsin's Robert Olson of Superior dribbles Minnesota's Mikhail Wakonabo of Deer River, — Wisconsin’s Robert Olson of Superior dribbles past Minnesota’s Mikhail Wakonabo of Deer River in the first half of DAYBA’s 14th Annual Boundary Battle at Romano Gymnasium on Tuesday night March 29, 2022 in Duluth.

Minnesota's William Bittman, right, of Eveleth-Gilbert gets the better of Braxton Sbraggia, of Hurley, Wis., for a field goal — Minnesota’s William Bittman, right, of Eveleth-Gilbert gets the better of Braxton Sbraggia, of Hurley, Wis., for a field goal in the first half of DAYBA’s 14th Annual Battle of the Borders at Romano Gymnasium on Tuesday night March 29, 2022 in Duluth.

Prep basketball: Minnesota sweeps border battle for first time – Reuters Sports News

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