After a week filled with snowstorms, country ice, sports postponements, and schools cancellations, the Grand River Conference returned to action on a frigid Tuesday night across northwest Missouri, with sixteen teams playing a total of eight games at eight separate gymnasiums. Among the doubleheaders were the Trenton Bulldogs at Putnam County on Hot Country Z 101.7 and the Milan Wildcats at Gallatin on KTTN FM 92.3.
The two undefeated squads on top of the GRC’s Eastern Division standings were able to protect their positions, as the Trenton Lady Bulldogs cruised to a victory at Putnam County, 68-20, with the #1 ranked (Class 2) Milan Wildcats winning at Gallatin, 78-42.
In the Trenton girls win at Putnam County, Maci Moore led THS with 20 points, with Salem Croy adding 15 points (including three made 3-point shots), and Ainsley Tolson 14. That victory improves Trenton to 16-0 overall and 5-0 in the GRC, on the same day that the Lady Bulldogs surpassed Licking to move to #2 in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 3 state poll, behind three-time state champion Strafford. Putnam County, dropping to 5-15 overall, and 2-3 in the GRC East, had four points apiece from Carsen Sporleder and Claire Tipton.
The Trenton boys were able to claim third place in the GRC East standings, improving to 3-2, with a 54-43 win in Unionville. Carson Burchett had 15 points for the Bulldogs (7-9, 3-2), with Dylan Harris adding 14, and Max McNabb 13. THS was playing shorthanded, with senior forward Carson Radcliff missing the game due to illness.
Putnam County, dropping to 10-9 overall, and 2-3 in the GRC, had 10 points from Kelton Bain, and eight points each Kaden Seaton and Hayden Halley.
The Milan boys, in a 78-42 rout of Gallatin, had 27 points from junior forward Ryan Dabney, in a game that sent the returning Class 2 all-state selection over 1,000 points in his superlative career. Fellow junior Hunter Shaw had 14 points for the Wildcats, now 17-0 overall, and 4-0 in the GRC. Gallatin, falling to 9-8 overall and 4-3 in the GRC East, had 13 points from Johnny Stout, while Landon Corwin had eight.
The Gallatin Lady Bulldogs put together one of their finest performances of the season in a 61-42 win over the Lady Wildcats of Milan High School. Kelsey Maxwell had 20 points for GHS, with Karley Salmon adding 19, and Caragan Baker 14 points, as the Lady Bulldogs improve to 11-7 overall, and 4-3 in the GRC. Milan, dropping to 9-8 overall, while losing for the first time in conference play (3-1), had 12 points from Cady Pauley and nine points from Tahlie Gray.
Other GRC girls scores from Tuesday night were:
Albany 50, Braymer 48
North Andrew 52, St. Joseph Christian 15
Polo 54, South Harrison 43
Princeton 52, Maysville 26
Stanberry 91, Pattonsburg 24
Worth County 72, King City 29
Other GRC boys scores from Tuesday night were:
Braymer 41, Albany 36
Maysville 57, Princeton 55
North Andrew 74, St. Joseph Christian 40
Pattonsburg 56, Stanberry 28
South Harrison 61, Polo 38
Worth County 75, King City 71 (OT)
