CJ Baumgartner | Corey Tackmann | Local Sports | New York Mills | Sports | Wadena-Deer Creek | Zeke Fuhrman

By CJ Baumgartner |

2026 Highway 10 Cup Challenge Recap: WDC Wins Highway 10 Cup 5-4

Img 8483

NEW YORK MILLS, Minn.– Monday night re-ignited a rivalry between New York Mills and Wadena-Deer Creek boys basketball programs with the 3rd Annual 2026 Highway 10 Cup Challenge. The Wolverines took back the cup for the first time since 2025, winning five of the nine games.

The highway 10 Showdown is a challenge between the New York Mills Eagles and the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines boys basketball programs. All levels from 3rd grade-varsity played on the same day (junior high excluded this season due to their season already completed) The program that finishes with the better record at the end of the night takes the reward of a traveling trophy back to their respective school.

Despite a 4-4 draw of games, WDC hangs on to win by a score of 5-4. With the deciding factor coming from the junior high games played between the two schools before Christmas that went in favor of the Wolverines.

Let’s break down every game. Included is the score and player of the game from every contest from 3rd grade all the way up to varsity:

  • 6th Grade Team 1: Wadena-Deer Creek – 30 vs. New York Mills – 12
    • WDC Player of the Game: Brayden DeYoung
    • NYM Player of the Game: Nolan Uselman
  • 3rd Grade: Wadena-Deer Creek – 6 vs. New York Mills – 19
    • WDC Player of the Game: Zamari Higgins
    • NYM Player of the Game: Kaiser Hendrickx
  • C-Squad: Wadena-Deer Creek – 36 vs. New York Mills – 38 (OT)
    • WDC Player of the Game: Keenan Lehmkuhl
    • NYM Player of the Game: Camden Menz
  • 4th Grade: Wadena-Deer Creek – 15 vs. New York Mills – 12
    • WDC Player of the Game: Callan Martin
    • NYM Player of the Game: Brodie Hammer
  • 6th Grade Team 2: Wadena-Deer Creek – 29 vs. New York Mills – 9
    • WDC Player of the Game: Dastan DeGroat
    • NYM Player of the Game: Jackson Hendrix
  • JV Game: Wadena-Deer Creek – 38 vs. New York Mills – 42
    • WDC Player of the Game: Owen Hilluka
    • NYM Player of the Game: Jeremy Kopvieler
  • 5th Grade: Wadena-Deer Creek – 22 vs. New York Mills – 15
    • WDC Player of the Game: Reid Kern
    • NYM Player of the Game: Henry Schik
  • Varsity Game: Wadena-Deer Creek – 57 vs. New York Mills – 73 
    • WDC Player of the Game: Matt Kopp
    • NYM Player of the Game: Finn Roder

You can listen back to the full broadcast of every game by clicking here.