The Princeton Lady Tigers, in the front end of a Grand River Conference doubleheader on Tuesday night in Milan, started slowly, but behind the efforts of sophomore Payton Goodin, Princeton finished fast, pulling away from the Lady ‘Cats in the second half for a 52-37 win, Princeton’s first in GRC action this season.
Goodin was at her best in the second quarter, putting in 10 points as Princeton turned a 12-11 deficit after one quarter into a 26-24 halftime lead. Of her 23 points, 20 came on made field goals, while Payton made 3 of 4 free throws. The win improves PHS to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Jaelyn Thomas had eight points and Lacie Lewis six in the win.
Milan, falling to 1-1 in the GRC and 4-6 overall, was paced by 19 points from senior guard Kenna Michael, 13 of those coming in the first half. Angelle Ziegler added eight points for the Lady ‘Cats.
The Milan boys were the team to start slow in the nightcap, trailing 6-0 within the first two minutes of the game, and 16-10 after the first quarter, but the young and energetic Wildcats caught and passed upset-minded Princeton, eventually taking a 63-54 home-court victory that pushes Andrea Dabney’s team to 2-0 in the Grand River Conference, tied for first place with Trenton and Putnam County in the Eastern Division after one week of GRC play. Princeton, despite playing very competitively throughout the early season, continues to battle against a run of close losses, with the Tigers dipping to 1-6 overall, and 0-2 in the GRC East.
Wyatt Bohle, despite being held to only three first-half points, finished well for Milan, as the senior forward had 17 points to lead MHS. Ryan Dabney had 15 and Mauricio Curiel 11 for the winners. Princeton had two players score 34 of the Tigers 54 points, as Calvin Berwanger led a fourth-quarter surge that got Princeton as close as three points, finishing the night with a game-high 19 points, while Blaine Millburn connected for 15 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
Princeton will get right back into action on Thursday night, playing Bunker High School as part of Holiday Hoops at North Central Missouri College in Trenton. The Lady Tigers play Bunker at 9 AM, with the boys game between the schools at 10:30. Both contests will be broadcast LIVE on Hot Country Z 101.7.
Tuesday night’s GRC games from Milan High School were broadcast on KTTN FM 92.3.
Elsewhere in the GRC East on Tuesday night, Trenton swept a doubleheader with Gallatin, winning by a pair of ten-point margins (39-29 girls and 46-36 boys), Polo’s girls beat Maysville 48-34, with the Wolverine boys returning the favor 60-42, while Putnam County swept a double-dip in Unionville against the South Harrison Bulldogs, with the girls final 44-36 and a boys overtime thriller going to the Midgets, 68-58.
