The Milan Wildcats depth, quickness, rebounding, and pressure defense overwhelmed the rival Putnam County Midgets over a whirl-wind second quarter performance, as the fourth-ranked (MBCA Class 2) Wildcats routed the Midgets 72-47 in the semifinals of the Marceline Hoops Classic on Thursday night.
In a game broadcast on KTTN FM 92.3, Putnam County, trailing 10-4 midway through the first quarter, made an effective surge at the Wildcats, pulling even at 10 before Milan scored the final five points of the quarter to claim a 15-10 advantage. In the second quarter, the ‘Cats outscored Putnam County 26-7, with Dominic Dabney scoring 10 of his 14 points in that frame, while his big brother, sophomore Ryan Dabney, had six points to match the six points scored in the first quarter. Sophomore Hunter Shaw scored six of his nine points in the quarter, with Milan taking a 41-17 lead to the locker room.
While the Midgets played more consistently in the second half, they could not decisively cut into the Wildcat advantage, as Milan improves to 12-0 on the season, while Putnam County falls to 8-4.
Ryan Dabney had 22, Dom Dabney 14, and Hunter Shaw 9 for Milan, with 12 Wildcats scoring on the night. Putnam County was paced by 11 points from junior small forward Kaden Seaton. Milan advances to the championship game at Marceline, against either Macon or Meadville, to be played at 7:30 on Saturday night on KTTN FM 92.3. Putnam County will play either Macon or Meadville at 4:30 on Saturday afternoon in the third place game.
Milan Head Coach Andrea Dabney noted that, while the victory over the Midgets was satisfying for her team, it will not be the final time the rivals meet this season, with the ‘Cats scheduled to play in Unionville against Putnam County on Tuesday, January 23rd, potentially for the GRC Eastern Division championship:
The Macon Tigerettes won a semifinal test against the host Marceline Lady Tigers on Thursday night, 44-34, moving Macon into the girls title game on Saturday night at 6 o’clock, while Marceline drops into the girls third place game, Saturday at 3.
In consolation semifinal action, the Schuyler County Lady Rams beat Putnam County, 54-45, moving Schuyler into the consolation final on Saturday at 12 noon. The Glasgow boys rolled to a 70-39 victory against Schuyler County, putting the Yellowjackets in Saturday’s 1:30 consolation finale.
Tonight’s (Friday night’s) schedule from Marceline starts with the Meadville Lady Eagles playing the Lady ‘Cats of Milan in a consolation semifinal at 4 o’clock, followed by a boy’s consolation affair between Marceline and South Shelby at 5:30.
The final championship semifinals will follow, as the Glasgow Lady Yellowjackets play South Shelby at 7 o’clock, while the #3 seed Macon Tigers challenge the #2 seeded, state-ranked Meadville Eagles at 8:30.
