EAGLE RIVER, Wis. — The Kiwanis Classic Border Bash is back, just in a different location.

After being canceled last year, like most everything else because of the virus, the annual Northern Michigan vs. Northern Wisconsin boys and girls basketball all-star games will be played on June 9 at Northland Pines High School. 

The game had been held at Gogebic Community College’s Lindquist Center since it started in 2014. Northland Pines had expressed an interest in being a host the last several years and they welcomed organizer Russ Maki’s request to hold the game there this June.

This year’s rosters span a huge geographical area, from the far eastern U.P. in St. Ignace to the Green Bay area and west to Stevens Point, Abbotsford and even Cameron. One player, Alyssa Nimz, is coming from Waukesha’s Catholic Memorial.

“The (Michigan) girls are all the way from Ironwood to St. Ignace, that’s pretty cool,” Maki said. “One plus with the Wisconsin location is I was able to reach a little bit towards central Wisconsin. I think because it was located in Eagle River, I think that’s why they elected to play.”

It’s also closer for central and eastern U.P. players to come.

Face masks won’t be required for players or fans, Maki said.

The best seniors from both states are invited to the game each year and this year’s roster is loaded with talent.

The Northern Wisconsin boys have won the last two games to even the matchup at 3-3. The Northern Michigan and Northern Wisconsin girls also have three wins each with Wisconsin winning the last matchup in 2019, 89-80.

Four local players were selected to the game, three of which are on the girls team.

All-U.P. Dream Teamer Elise Besonen of Ewen-Trout Creek and her teammate Abbie LeGault, a second teamer, will join forces with Ironwood’s McKenzie Boyd, an All-U.P. First Team selection in Division 4.

They’ll be coached by E-TC’s Jacky Besonen.

Joining them on the Northern Michigan girls team will be players from other premier programs in the U.P.

Emma Anderson, Ms. U.P. Basketball a year ago, and teammate Erin Barrette will represent Menominee, which was ranked No. 1 in the Division 1-3 poll much of the past season. 

Two players from St. Ignace will make the trip west – Hallie Marshall and Emmalee Hart. Marshall was the U.P. Division 4 Player of the Year in 2020.

They’ll be joined by Westwood’s Ellie Miller, Negaunee’s Emilia Palomaki and L’Anse’s Maija Rice.

South Shore’s Chloe Sipsas, the Indianhead Conference’s player of the year as a sophomore and senior, will play for the Northern Wisconsin team.

E-TC’s Tommy Cousineau will play for the Northern Michigan boys, which will be coached by Jeffers John Schutz.

He’ll have some familiar company on his team from the Copper Mountain Conference. Dollar Bay’s Connor LeClaire and Davin Hill both surpassed the 1,000-point mark as seniors. Jeffers Christian Hocking helped lead the Jets to a district championship.

Marquette’s Kam Karp was an All-UP Dream Team selection in basketball and the Offensive Player of the Year in football in the fall.

Northern Wisconsin’s Quinn Lamers of Rhinelander recently signed to be a quarterback at Division 1 FCS University of Montana. Dawson Nordgaard of West De Pere has committed to play basketball at Michigan Tech. 

Ashland’s Kevon Powell is the only player from near Ironwood on the Wisconsin team.

The girls game is at 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys contest. Games will be played with 26-minute halves.

The U.P. All-Star Classic won’t be held this year as organizers were unable to find a host in the central U.P.