The Milbank Area Bulldogs continue to battle hard on the court but suffered two losses in its recent high school boys basketball matchups to... Bulldog Cagers Battle In Recent Contests

_DSC0150The Milbank Area Bulldogs continue to battle hard on the court but suffered two losses in its recent high school boys basketball matchups to drop to 3-8 on the season. The Dawgs hosted Hamlin Friday, January 22, and were edged out 53-48. The locals were then featured in double header action Saturday, January 23, and lost 74-59 to West Central.

Milbank Area got off to a slower start Friday night. The Bulldogs struggled against the Chargers full court press and committed unforced turnovers to fall behind 2-9 midway through the opening period. Two buckets by Nate Bien pulled Milbank Area to within three points, but the opponent widened the gap to 13-8 at the end of the quarter.

The teams played even throughout the second period with Milbank Area narrowly outscored 13-12. The Bulldogs showed some life when Cody Dockter stole the ball from Hamlin, found Riley Wollschlager on the outlet pass who found Bien down court for a nice lay in. Unfortunately, Milbank Area remained behind 26-20 at the midway mark.

Both teams produced 10 points in the third quarter with Hamlin holding a 36-30 advantage heading into the final stanza. The Bulldogs cut the lead to two points early in the fourth, before Hamlin answered with a three-pointer. The score teetered back and forth with a five point spread until Jacob Jackson dropped in a shot from under the basket and was fouled. Nolan Foss snared the missed free throw before head coach Matt Bastian called a timeout to regroup with 1:13 remaining in the game.

Wollschlager missed the drawn up three-point play and Hamlin answered with a field goal to widen the margin to 45-50 with 19 ticks on the clock. Foss came up with a big steal and dished it off to Bien who hit a big three and cut the score to 48-50 with 8.1 seconds left. Milbank Area was then forced to foul to get the ball back, and Hamlin was successful in making its shots from the charity stripe.

The Bulldogs played a solid game and kept their composure throughout. Milbank Area was outscored by just two points in the final three quarters of the contest, but could not overcome the first quarter deficit.

Bien gave the Bulldogs a spark with 20 points, three rebounds and one steal. Jackson followed with 10 points and one steal while Foss added seven points, four boards and one steal. Kyle Montag chipped in with four points and four rebounds, and Wollschlager had three points. Also contributing for the Dawgs were Tanner Gauer, two points, one rebound and one turnover; Dockter, two points and three rebounds, and Jonny Ash, three rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Milbank Area made 42 percent of its shots from the field, hitting 19 of 47 attempts. The Bulldogs went 4-for-15 from three-point land and 6-for-14 from the charity stripe. They finished the game with 27 rebounds, eight steals, one assist and just one turnover.

Hamlin went 16 for 43 from the field for 42 percent shooting on the night. The Chargers won the game with 33 rebounds, one steal, two assists and eight turnovers.
Milbank Area 59, West Central 74

Milbank Area suffered a 74-59 loss to West Central in the final game of double header action Saturday at the Milbank Armory.

The Bulldogs came out ready to play and battled hard throughout the first half. Milbank Area trailed by four points at 18-14 at the end of the first quarter and 34-30 at the midway mark.

Hot shooting from three-point land by the Trojans led the the Bulldogs demise in the second half. Milbank Area was outscored 21-12 in the third quarter and fell behind 55-42 heading into the final stanza. The Dawgs poured in 17 points in the final quarter, its largest of the game, but was unable to overcome the hot shooting by West Central.

Foss produced a double-double on the night. He fired in 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to set the pace for the Bulldogs. Ash followed closely with 16 points, four rebounds, two steals, one assist and one turnover while Bien added nine points, two boards and three turnovers. Jackson tallied seven points, seven rebounds, one steal and three turnovers, and Montag had two points, one rebound and one turnover.

Also adding to the team totals were Wollschlager, three points; Isaac Snaza, three rebounds and one assist; James Weber, one point, two rebounds, one assist and one turnover; Dockter, one point and one turnover; Matt Lenards and Tanner Gauer, one rebound each, and Mitch Quade, one assist.

Milbank Area made 38 percent of its shots from the field, making 18 of 47 attempts. The locals completed the contest with 45 rebounds, six steals, four assists and 14 turnovers.

West Central went 29 for 59 from the field for 55 percent shooting in the game. The Trojans made 60 percent of its three point shots, hitting eight of 16. They won the game with 24 rebounds, 14 steals and seven turnovers.

Milbank Area has two road games this week. The Bulldogs will travel to Aberdeen Friday, January 29, to take on the Roncalli Cavaliers. They will then travel to Sisseton Saturday, January 30, to take on the Redmen in a rescheduled contest.

Staff Writer

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