15th annual DAYBA Border Battle honors Northland high school hoops stars

Tuesday night, celebrating it’s 15th year, the Duluth Amateur Youth Basketball Association’s (DAYBA) all-star Border Battle game returned to Romano Gym.

39 boys and girls from high schools across the Northland were invited to compete for Team Minnesota and Team Wisconsin.

Team Minnesota would earn the sweep with the boys winning 115-86 and the girls winning 95-78.

“It’s a cool experience because it kind of brings down tension. In games you get really heated against your enemies but now you get the experience and pleasure of having them on your team,” Duluth East’s Rocco Paulson said.

“I get to represent Northwestern one more time. The community will come out from Northwestern it’s not much of a drive so hopefully I’ll have some fans,” Cole Lahti said.

“My season was coming to an end but having that second chance of coming back here, getting to play against other great competitors was overall exciting to hear,” Superior’s Emma Raye shared.

The four teams were led by community college coaches, including Anoka Ramsey Community College coach Samantha Doucette. She played in the Border Battle in 2010, and this year asked her dad to be her assistant coach.

“My dad Joe Doucette has been around the game of basketball since I was a little baby. Has continued to help me and my sisters throughout the years, so I’m excited to have him as my assistant tonight. He’s been the biggest influence as far as women’s basketball,” Samantha said.

In addition to playing in the DAYBA Border Battle, Duluth East’s Jobe Juenemann and Mountain Iron-Buhl’s Asher Zubich were named to the Minnesota Basketball Coach’s Association’s All-Star game. It’s Saturday, April 1 at Anoka Ramsey Community College.