The Grand River Conference champion Trenton Lady Bulldogs and Milan Wildcats completed unbeaten regular seasons on Friday night, claiming GRC victories in a pair of varsity contests broadcast LIVE on KTTN FM 92.3 from Milan High School.
The Milan boys were superb in the first half, using a half-court pressing defense to take visiting Trenton out of their game, using steals, transition baskets, and strong half-court play to open up a 38-19 advantage after 16 minutes.
The second half had a different storyline, with Trenton beginning to peck away at the Wildcats lead, and while the Bulldogs never gained the scoreboard edge in the second half, the Wildcats had to make a series of strong plays late in the fourth quarter to hold off Trenton, finishing off a 23-0 regular season with a 68-58 victory, officially completing a perfect run (8-0) through the GRC. Ryan Dabney led a balanced Wildcat side from 19 points, while Dre Morehead added nine, and Quinn Doak and Dominic Dabney eight points each for the winners.
Milan opens postseason play on Monday afternoon at 4:30 from Schuyler County High School, playing the host Rams. That game, in addition to a pair of Princeton vs. Marceline games (girls at 5:45, boys at 7:00) to follow, can all be heard on KTTN FM 92.3, with Tom Johnson providing the play-by-play coverage. Trenton will play at Higginsville against the host Huskers on Tuesday evening at 5:30, scheduled for broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7.
Trenton, finishing the regular season at 9-12, had 20 points (14 in the second half) from Max McNabb. Dylan Harris had 13 points and Carson Radcliff eight for THS.
In the opener on Friday, moved to 4:30 in the afternoon due to ongoing weather concerns, the Lady Wildcats were able to stifle Trenton’s potent attack early, with a strategy of “muddying up” the paint forcing THS into long-distance shots, most of which were not finding the bottom of the basket. However, Trenton’s trademark defense slowed Milan, as the teams battled to an 8-7 score (Trenton with the lead) through eight minutes. In the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs, sparked by the play of senior Ainsley Tolson and sophomore Maci Moore, came alive, combining for 18 points in the frame as Trenton burst out to a 30-16 advantage. The Lady Bulldogs momentum continued into the third quarter, as a 28-12 edge put the game, for Milan’s hopes, out of reach.
The win completed the first-ever unbeaten regular season for Trenton girls basketball, with a 21-0 record heading into postseason play. Trenton will play Carrollton in the 1 vs. 8 seed game on Monday afternoon (4 o’clock) from Higginsville. Milan, dropping to a mark of 13-10, was led by 21 points (11 in the third quarter) by freshman Cady Pauley. Milan, weather permitting, opens postseason play with a quarterfinal game at Schuyler County against South Shelby on Tuesday afternoon at 5:45, with coverage tentatively scheduled for broadcast (pending play-by-play availability and weather concerns) on KTTN FM 92.3.
