With the “cross-over” games, that will include the first-ever Grand River Conference championship games, set for two weeks from tonight, key boys matchups on both the eastern and western side of the conference highlight the schedule for tonight (Friday, January 20th).
Two squads that play similar styles, but with differing depth and youth, will match up at Milan High School’s “Den”, as two of the three teams without a loss in the GRC East duel, with the Trenton Bulldogs meeting the Milan Wildcats. Trenton’s boys have been led offensively by the “Big 3”, in seniors Spencer Harris, Connor Cotton, and Corbyn Guile. The trio all average double figures per game, and get things done differently, as Cotton plays in the paint, Harris has proven to be a knock-down jump shooter, while Guile has shown the ability to hit jump shots and dribble penetrate for opportunities.
Perhaps a bigger key to Trenton’s success is a stifling 1-3-1 zone that utilizes the Bulldogs perimeter length and quickness to cut off passing lanes, create turnovers, many with the quick hands of junior forward Lathan Croy, and help the Bulldogs superb transition game.
On the home side for tonight’s match-up are the Milan Wildcats, seeing a boy’s basketball renaissance after more than a decade of struggles in the now-defunct Tri-Rivers Conference. Milan, led by Head Coach Andrea Dabney, has one of the best scorers in the GRC in senior forward Wyatt Bohle, a player in a leadership position on a squad bolstered by both depth and quality from a talented group of underclassmen.
Ryan Dabney, the freshman son of Andrea Dabney and Milan football coach John Dabney, has given the Wildcats size and energy from the wing position, while players like Mauricio Curiel and Quinn Doak are showing quick improvement after having a year of varsity experience in 2015-2016. Ultra-athletic freshman Hunter Shaw and sophomore guard Marcus Diaz provide good quality for the “Green and Gold”, both in terms of a part-time starter or energy off the Wildcat bench. Perhaps Milan’s biggest challenge is the inconsistency of youth, as the Wildcats are unbeaten in conference play, but have endured uneven play at different times of the season, notably in a two-game losing streak at the first of the year, with a Holiday Hoops loss to South Holt followed by a two-point loss to South Shelby in the Marceline Tournament quarterfinals.
The Trenton Lady Bulldogs, #8 in the state in Class 3, will open the night at Milan with a 6 o’clock contest against a Milan Lady Wildcat team that is much-improved over one year ago, but one that realizes a superb performance will be needed against a strong THS club to have a fourth-quarter shot tonight. Much like the Milan boys, the Trenton girls strength is in athletic ability and strong depth, with the majority of the roster made up of sophomores and freshmen.
KTTN FM 92.3 will carry the Friday night doubleheader, with the girls game at 6 o’clock, followed by the boy’s contest. Tom Johnson will be joined by Dennis Stephenson for the play-by-play call.
The Trenton at Milan boys game may serve as the marquee in the east, but it will not be the only showdown in the GRC tonight. A Braymer Bobcat team smarting after a loss to St. Joseph Christian on Tuesday night puts its Class 1, #8 ranking on the line against the #4 ranked North Andrew Cardinals. That boys game will follow the girls contest at Braymer High School.
Elsewhere in the GRC, doubleheaders tonight will be South Harrison at Gallatin, Princeton at Polo, and Putnam County at Maysville, while in the GRC West, Stanberry is at King City, Worth County at Pattonsburg, and Albany at St. Joseph Christian.
It will be a full schedule in the KCI Conference tonight, as Penney High School prepares for next week’s Hamilton Tournament by hosting North Platte, with East Buchanan at Mid-Buchanan, Lathrop at West Platte, and Lawson at Plattsburg.
In the HDC Conference, the Grundy R-5 Panthers celebrate homecoming by hosting North Mercer, while East Harrison travels to Tri-County, and North Harrison is at Gilman City. The Newtown-Harris Tigers host Brashear in non-conference action.
In the Midland Empire Conference, there will be three boy’s games tonight. Bishop LeBlond will be at Cameron and Maryville at Savannah in conference play, while Smithville is at Staley in non-conference competition. Chillicothe has the night off. The Hornets, on Saturday, travel to Camdenton High School to play the Conway Bears in a 2 o’clock tipoff.
