The Trenton Lady Bulldogs played one of their best games of the season in snatching Grand River Conference victory #2, while the Milan boys roared back from an early game deficit to dominate the second half and win by 30 points, in a varsity basketball doubleheader from Milan High School on Friday night, broadcast on KTTN FM 92.3.
In the opener, Trenton’s defense was the decisive factor in a Lady Bulldog 42-19 victory, as THS frustrated Milan throughout with stout rotating defensive pressure, with the Lady ‘Cats unable to connect consistently on perimeter shots to open the floor.
Sophomore guard Astrid Soriano led the Lady Bulldogs (6-12, 2-4) with 12 points, with classmate Mirena King adding 11. Kaegan Croy had six points and Kaylor Hodge and Madi Moore both had five for a Trenton team that tied Milan in the GRC standings at 2-4.
Milan had eight points from Auburn Cole with Danika Shepherd adding seven. The Lady ‘Cats overall record dipped to 8-9.
Trenton boys started strong and looked poised for an upset of a Milan team tied with Gallatin for first place in the conference standings. The Bulldogs pounded on Milan early, leading 13-8 after one quarter. However, the Wildcats showed signs of life in the second quarter, rallying to within a 31-30 halftime deficit.
The second half saw a Milan avalanche sweep over the Bulldogs, with the Wildcats outscoring Trenton 26-9 in the third quarter and 22-8 in the final quarter, winning the contest 78-48.
Milan’s Ahmet Niasse led all scorers with 30 points, with Jeremy Bennett adding 22 and Nathan Keck 10 points. The Wildcats are now 13-5 overall, and at 6-0 in GRC play, set themselves up for an opportunity to play Gallatin for the GRC East title on Tuesday, January 31st. Trenton (3-12, 1-5) had 17 points from Kiefer Tolson with Maverick Sole adding 12.
Milan will host Marceline on Monday night, with Trenton spending its week at the Hamilton Basketball Tournament, starting with Tuesday night quarterfinal tests, both on Hot Country Z 101.7, as the THS girls battle South Harrison at 7 o’clock, followed by a boys contest against East Buchanan at 8:15.
Elsewhere on the scoreboard for Friday, January 20, 2023:
GIRLS:
Polo 57, Princeton 47
South Harrison 47, Gallatin 35
Putnam County 64, Maysville 32
King City 36, Stanberry 27
North Andrew 47, North Harrison 16
Pattonsburg 51, Worth County 38
St. Joseph Christian 64, Albany 25
Mercer 40, Grundy R-V 25
Gilman City 62 Winston 41
East Harrison 36 Tri-County 29
North Platte 73 Plattsburg 38
Mid Buchanan 58 Lathrop 42
West Platte 53 Lawson 22
Maryville 37 Savannah 22
BOYS:
Gallatin 82, South Harrison 31
Maysville 64, Putnam County 54
Princeton 55, Polo 38
Albany 70, St. Joseph Christian 68
North Andrew 67, North Harrison 37
Pattonsburg 67, Worth County 58
Stanberry 42, King City 39
Grundy R-V 79, Mercer 34
Winston 56 Gilman City 49
Tri-County 46 East Harrison 36
Plattsburg 44 North Platte 30
Lathrop 49 Mid Buchanan 45
Lawson 54 West Platte 43
LeBlond 61 Cameron 43
Maryville 55 Savannah 53
