A river, a state border and approximately 60 miles separate Brandon Chrest and Matt Borowicz. But the summertime teammates face the challenge of defending each other Friday.
Stephen-Argyle is at Cavalier on Friday in a matchup of outstanding boys basketball teams. Cavalier, 8-1, is ranked seventh in this week's North Dakota Class B state high school boys basketball poll. Stephen-Argyle, 7-3, is in second place in Minnesota's West Subsection 8A.
The game within the game figures to be the matchup of Chrest and Borowicz in the post.
"Brandon's one of the best post players I'll go against around here," Borowicz said. "It's fun to go against a friend. And I know it's a challenge to go against him."
The two played together each of the last two seasons on an AAU team based out of Mayville. The 6-foot-4 Chrest averages 16.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.2 blocks a game. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Borowicz averages 23 points and 14 rebounds a game. He'll be playing with a clear plastic mask covering his face after breaking his nose in a game last week.
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"We're pretty good friends," Borowicz said. "We call each other every once in awhile, talking about how the football or basketball seasons are going. I know how he plays; he knows how I play. You look forward to playing each other."
While they're two of the best post players in the area, they excel in different ways.
Both are capable shooters from mid-range and in. But Borowicz is more of a power player. Chrest dominates in District 4 with his height, but he knows that won't be enough against the Stephen-Argyle senior. Chrest's game is more quickness and leaping ability.
"It should be a fun game," Chrest said. "He's a hard guy to guard. He's about the only center around here I haven't been able to block shots against. He's got a nice hook shot. And I know I'm not going to get as many easy shots down low.
"He'll be the first big guy we've played against."
Borowicz, Housker, Shephard reach 1,000
Matt Borowicz is one of three area basketball players that recently reached the 1,000-point milestone in their careers. Others are Valley-Edinburg's Thomas Shephard and Roseau's Elizabeth Housker.
- Borowicz had 10 points against Warren-Alvarado-Oslo on Tuesday, giving the senior 1,108 points.
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"Matt's game is sort of a mixed bag," Storm coach Nevin Lubarski said. "He can hit from 17 feet. We'll pop him out there. Then he'll go inside. He's a power player, using his size down low. Teams are always double- and triple-teaming him, so he has to work hard to get his points."
- Shephard scored his 1,000th point last week when he tallied 21 against Lakota/Adams-Edmore.
The senior averages 19.6 points for the 9-1 Titans.
"Thomas can shoot the three; he does a good job driving to the basket; we've even used him in the post," V-E coach Cory Laxdal said. "He's pretty versatile. He's probably best as a spot-up shooter or taking it to the basket."
- Housker is at exactly 1,000 points after she scored 23 against Lake of the Woods on Tuesday.
A 5-10 senior, Housker is a strong post player. She averages 18.2 points and 9 rebounds for the 7-3 Rams.
"Elizabeth is an accurate shooter out to about 12-15 feet," Roseau coach Bob Glassmann said. "We use her a lot out there. And she's a power player around the basket, a very strong player. She's just a good all-around athlete."
Adam gives Tommies a lift
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In Thompson's first seven games, Jake Adam totaled 58 points. In the Tommies' last three games, he's scored 50 points -- not coincidentally, Thompson has won three straight to pull its record even at 5-5.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Adam has given the Tommies a presence that has resulted in them changing their traditional fast-paced style.
"We've focused more on going inside to Jake rather than the perimeter game we've usually had," said Mark Hegg, who is in his 11th season as the Tommies' boys basketball coach. "He's the first true big man, the first true post player, I've had.
"It's nice to have a big kid. But it has been an adjustment for all of us, learning how to use that size. We're playing a little slower, a little more methodical, than we've been used to."
Adam is playing in a reserve role. Overall, he averages 10.8 points and 8 rebounds a game. "He's getting more into basketball shape, and we're utilizing him better later," Hegg said. "He's developed a nice post-up game."
Briefly
Greenbush-Middle River-Badger junior Alex Yeager scored the 100th win of his wrestling career Friday. . . . All-tournament picks at the Lake Region Invitational girls basketball tournament in Devils Lake were: Brandy Messner, Shelby Gillett and Sabrina Rude of champion Dakota Prairie; Fallyn Freije, Lakota/Adams-Edmore; Kelsey Teubner and Brittney Held, North Star; Justine Ross, Dorothia Santos and Jessica Hale, Four Winds-Warwick-Minnewaukan; and Taylor Swanson, Devils Lake JV. . . . Roseau junior Kyle McCourt won the 130-pound division at the Perham Barrel O'Fun Invitational wrestling tournament. . . . Mahnomen-Waubun's Garret Hoffner was the 140-pound champion at the Benson Braves Classic wrestling tournament.
DeVillers reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1128; (800) 477-6572, ext. 128; or send e-mail to gdevillers@gfherald.com .
