Lady ‘Cats survive strong Trenton challenge to clinch GRC East title, will host championship game Saturday

The Milan Lady Wildcats are returning to the Grand River Conference’s championship game, clinching a spot in the title tilt on Tuesday night with a heart-stopping 32-31 win over Trenton in a game not decided until the final buzzer, in action heard on Hot Country Z 101.7.  Cady Pauley hit the game-winning basket over a Trenton double-team with 26.6 seconds to go in regulation, answering a three-point basket by Mirena King of Trenton with 38.3 seconds remaining that gave the Lady Bulldogs a brief 31-30 advantage.

Milan entered the game in first place in the Eastern Division of the GRC, with a mark of 6-0, while Trenton, winners of 12 of their last 14 games, had surged in recent weeks, staying one game back of the Lady Wildcats at 5-1 in conference play.

The teams traded 18 points back-and-forth in the first quarter, with the senior Pauley hitting a pair of three-pointers for Milan (including a 35-footer at the buzzer), while Trenton freshman Mirena King hit three two-point baskets, as the teams finished the stanza tied at 9.  Trenton’s offense went cold in the second quarter, with King supplying the only Bulldog basket, as Milan, still struggling against Trenton’s stifling defense, leading 15-11 at the break.

A pair of three-pointers for Trenton in the third quarter, one by Chandler Lynch and the other by Mirena King, pulled the home team into a 19-19 tie after 24 minutes.  

After being held to only eight points over the first three quarters, Milan’s Pauley came alive in the fourth quarter, with ten points, but a pair of missed free throws and two missed possessions late gave Trenton the ball, down by one point, with a chance to clinch the division title.  An open three-point shot smacked off the rim, igniting a celebration for the Milan team and spectators in attendance.

Milan head coach Ched Hurley was relieved to have won the strong GRC test given to the Lady ‘Cats by Trenton, while admitting that his team hopes to improve its play going into Saturday night’s conference title game against St. Joseph Christian: 

Mirena King led Trenton with 16 points, earning postgame praise from head coach Kameron Cool:

Pauley had 18 points for Milan, with Lynch scoring seven points for Trenton.  Avery Pickering of Milan and Morgan King of Trenton both tallied six points.

The Milan boys improved to 16-8 overall and 4-3 in the GRC in Tuesday night’s nightcap, moving out to a 21-6 lead after one quarter and never trailing in a 59-32 win.  Chekh Niasse had 20 points, with Ahmet Niasse and Jeremy Bennett scoring 10 each for Milan, which, as the fourth-place finisher in the GRC East, will play in the 10:30 4th place game on Saturday morning at the GRC Showcase at Milan High School.  Trenton, now 0-21 on the season, and 0-7 in GRC play, will play North Harrison in the 8th place game on Saturday morning at 10:30 (Milan Elementary Gym).  The Bulldogs were led by Kiefer Tolson with 15 points.  Gabe Novak added nine.

Here are the other high school basketball scores from Tuesday, February 8, 2022: 

GIRLS:

Gilman City 55, East Harrison 31 (HDC Tournament) 

Winston 41, Grundy R-V 37 (HDC Tournament) 

Stanberry 54, South Harrison 37

Mid-Buchanan 43, Plattsburg 34

West Platte 31, East Buchanan 29

Maysville 70, Pattonsburg 68

Northeast Nodaway 27, North Harrison 23

Lathrop 55, North Platte 36

Lawson 67, Penney 21

BOYS:

Winston 70, Gilman City 33 (HDC Tournament) 

Grundy R-V 76, East Harrison 41

Albany 52, Princeton 38 

Stanberry 62, South Harrison 46

Maysville 76, Pattonsburg 38 

Benton 78, Lafayette 71

Maryville 74, Cameron 68

Mid-Buchanan 59, Plattsburg 26

Lawson 44, Penney 39

West Platte 57, East Buchanan 50

Lathrop 66, North Platte 44