Dawgs Suffer Disappointing Loss in SoDak 16 Matchup

The Milbank Bulldogs suffered a tough 70-54 loss to Sioux Falls Christian in the SoDak 16
round of high school boys basketball Tuesday, March 10, in Madison. The Dawgs end their
season with a 14-9 overall record.
“I thought we came out and executed the game plan to perfection,” stated Bulldog head
coach Logan Diede. “The boys did everything I asked of them. We were right where we wanted
to be. The belief was there, and it never diminished. The reality is we were playing possibly the
best team in the state of South Dakota.”
The two teams battled it out in a closely contested game throughout the first half.
Milbank trailed by just one point at 16-17 after the opening quarter. The Bulldogs came back to
even up the score at 25-25 at halftime.
Milbank struggled in the third period by committing several costly turnovers and found
it difficult to score. In the meantime, Sioux Falls Christian got hot and poured in 27 points in the
quarter to overtake the advantage at 35-52. Milbank slightly outscored the Chargers in the
fourth period, but it was just a little too late.
“SF Christian had a phenomenal third quarter that we didn’t quite have an answer to
quick enough,” added Diede. “But, as always, our boys kept battling and competing, and we got
it figured out. Our team had absolutely no quit, and we got the game back under control to
finish in a strong fashion.”
Three players scored in double figures for Milbank. Max McCulloch set the pace for the
Dawgs with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Will Cummins followed with
12 points, three boards, two steals, and one assist while Bennett Schwenn added 10 points, two
assists, and one steal. Carter Hartman tallied eight points, four rebounds, and one assist on the
night. Mason Riley chipped in with five points, two boards, and two assists. Rounding out the
scoring for the Bulldogs was Stevie Ash with three points and one rebound.
Also contributing to the totals for Milbank was Ryker Trevett, one rebound, two assists,
and one steal, and Evan Erickson, two rebounds and two steals.
The Bulldogs made 37 percent of their shots from the field, making 19-of-51 attempts.
Milbank grabbed 24 rebounds, had 11 assists and seven steals, and committed 11 turnovers.
SF Christian went 30-for-58 from the field for 52 percent shooting. They were hot in the
second half, hitting 20-of-33 shots. The Chargers wrapped up the game with 42 rebounds, 17
assists, nine steals, three blocked shots, and 13 turnovers.
“I am incredibly thankful for our seniors – Max McCulloch, Evan Erickson, and Noah
Steinlicht,” expressed Diede. “As we continue to work endlessly to improve and get this
program to the next level, they will absolutely be a big part of our journey thanks to their hard
work and leadership given to this program over the years. Also, thank you to the entire
community of Milbank for the amazing support showed to these young men all year. It was a
pretty incredible atmosphere in Madison with the student body, adult section, and former
students/players in attendance. It doesn’t go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated by myself,
my coaching staff, and the team. Go Bulldogs!”