The Princeton Tigers, playing the GRC East rival Milan Wildcats for the third time this season, put a spirited charge at unbeaten Milan on Saturday afternoon, but the Wildcats emerged victorious, in a hard-fought 60-44 final from Schuyler County High School, broadcast on KTTN FM 92.3.
In the Class 2, District 6 championship game, Milan had 18 points from junior forward Ryan Dabney, with junior Hunter Shaw adding 17. Princeton was paced by 21 points from Preston Thomas.
Earlier in the week, the Milan boys beat Schuyler County in the quarterfinal round, 65-30, behind 17 points from Shaw, 16 from Dre Morehead, and 10 from Ryan Dabney. Carson Coleman had 10 points for the Rams.
On that same Monday evening, the Princeton Lady Tigers beat Marceline, 63-60, behind 20 points from Jaelyn Thomas, 18 points from Lindsey Batson, and 15 from Payton Goodin. Marceline had 19 points from Kensie Stahl, 16 from Renee Sinclair, and 12 from future NCMC Lady Pirate softball player Maycee Edgar, in the Lady Tigers final game of the 2018-2019 season.
The Princeton boys won their opening round game over Marceline, 53-38, behind 16 Preston Thomas points. Zeb Schwartzkopf had 11 and Owen Schreffler 10 for PHS. For Marceline, Luke Ablen had 11 points.
In the semifinal round, the Milan boys beat Knox County 57-33, with Eddie Gonzalez scoring 19 and Dominic Dabney 10 for the Wildcats. Connor Hayes had 10 for the Eagles. The Princeton boys had 15 points from Austin Kelly and 13 from Cameron Jones in a 46-40 win over Scotland County. Will Fromm had 15 and Jared Dunn 10 for SCHS. The season ended in the semifinal round for the Princeton girls, in a 61-56 defeat to Knox County. Rylee Strange had 22 points and Sidney Miller 21 for the Lady Eagles. Princeton had 22 points from Payton Goodin with Jaelyn Thomas adding 17.
