When surveying the landscape of the Grand River Conference’s Eastern Division for the upcoming boys basketball season, nobody brings back more talent than the Milan Wildcats, who made a spirited run at a conference crown last season, before losses to more experienced Trenton and Putnam County derailed Milan’s hopes.
This season, Coach Andrea Dabney returns a huge group of underclassmen, all one year older, in addition to a talented freshman class, many capable of being positive factors at the varsity level.
Milan opens its season at the Novinger High School gymnasium, first in the regular season opener on Monday, November 20th, as the Lady ‘Cats and Wildcats play on the road in a varsity doubleheader. Tom Johnson will provide the call on Hot Country Z 101.7, with the girls game at 6, followed by the boys contest.
The following week, Milan joins area schools Green City and Newtown-Harris as participants in the eight-team Novinger Invitational Tournament, with the Lady Wildcats receiving a #6 seed, while the Milan boys are seeded third.
On the first night of the Novinger Tournament (Monday, November 27th), the #2 seeded Green City Lady Gophers play Novinger at 4 o’clock, followed by the Milan boys (#3 seed) against Atlanta at 5:20. At 6:40, the #6 seed Milan Lady Wildcats challenge Brashear, with the #2 seed LaPlata boys playing Brashear at 8 o’clock.
On Tuesday, November 28th, the top-seeds from Scotland County High School will take on #8 seeds from Newtown-Harris, with the girls game at 4 followed by the boys contest at 5:20. The #4 seeded Atlanta Lady Hornets play LaPlata at 6:40, with the Green City Gopher boys, seeded #5, battling rival Novinger at 8 o’clock.
Here is the remainder of the schedule for the Novinger Invitational Tournament:
Wednesday, November 29th:
Girls Consolation (Green City/Novinger loser vs. Brashear/Milan loser) at 4 PM
Boys Semifinal (LaPlata/Brashear winner vs. Milan/Atlanta winner) at 5:20 PM
Girls Semifinal (Green City/Novinger winner vs. Brashear/Milan winner) at 6:40 PM
Boys Consolation (LaPlata/Brashear loser vs. Milan/Atlanta loser) at 8:00 PM
Thursday, November 30th:
Girls Consolation (Scotland County/Newtown-Harris loser vs. Atlanta/LaPlata loser) at 4:00 PM
Boys Consolation (Scotland County/Newtown-Harris loser vs. Novinger/Green City loser) at 5:20 PM
Girls Semifinal (Scotland County/Newtown-Harris winner vs. Atlanta/LaPlata winner) at 6:40 PM
Boys Semifinal (Scotland County/Newtown-Harris winner vs. Novinger/Green City winner) at 8:00 PM
Friday, December 1st:
Girls Consolation Final at 4:00 PM
Boys Consolation Final at 5:30 PM
Girls 3rd Place Game at 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 2nd:
Boys 3rd Place Game at 2:00 PM
Girls Championship Game at 3:30 PM
Boys Championship Game at 5:00 PM
