Bulldogs Beat the Falcons in a Barn Burner

You’ve no doubt heard the phrase there’s no “I” in team. And, that’s how the Bulldogs’ head coach, Logan Diede, summed up Milbank’s win against Florence-Henry on Friday, January 21. He also could have added it was a real barn burner! 

The Bulldogs pulled off a 47-44 victory which included five lead changes, six times when the score was tied, and everything going down to the wire. Coach Diede said, “We had guys step up all over the floor tonight in ways that don’t show in the box score. Joe Schulte and Max Lightfield gave us some huge minutes. Karson Weber came up huge on the defensive end to give us a big-time effort on (Florence-Henry’s) best player. Garrett Mertens came through in the clutch during the home stretch with incredibly important energy on defense as well as a huge three to tie the game at 40-40.”

Milbank’s starters also pulled their weight. Wylie Mursu led the team with 16 points and five rebounds. Bennett Schwenn had 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. He knocked down two three-pointers. Garrett Mertens had five points and four rebounds. 

Justus Osborne scored two points and grabbed three rebounds. Stevie Ash had three points and two rebounds. Joe Schulte added four points, and Jaxson Wildung pitched in to clock over three minutes on the court.
“It wasn’t always pretty, and we need to keep getting better on the offensive end of the floor, but tough teams are the ones that win when it matters,”Diede said. ” I’ll take tough over pretty every single day.” 

He also noted, “It was refreshing to see some free throws — important ones especially — go in as we went five for five from the line in the final seconds with Wylie Mursu going four for four. Very proud of that!”  As a team, the Bulldogs hit 10 of 16 from the free-throw line for nearly 63 percent.  The Falcons were five of eight from the charity stripe also making 63 percent.
“Total team effort,” Diede remarked. “It was great to see our lower levels compete and get wins, too, for a program sweep. Go Dogs!”

Score by Periods: Bulldogs   10   11   11   15   47  Falcons    16   9   12   7   44
What’s next for the Bulldogs?  The C team, JV, and Varsity head to Deuel High School to take on the Cardinals tonight, January 25. 

Junior Varsity  Bulldogs 49 vs. Falcons 39
The Bulldogs’ JV team chalked up another victory for their season total against the Florence-Henry Falcons on Friday, January 21. The Bulldogs defeated the Falcons 49-39.

Tice Mursu was the top scorer for Milbank with 11 points and six rebounds. Joe Schulte and Jaxson Wildung each put up 10 points. Schulte had eight rebounds and Wildung snagged three.

Caleb Rick added six points. Aiden Ludvigson dropped in five points and added three offensive rebounds. Tanner Hallquist had four points and three defensive rebounds. Max Lightfield contributed three points.
Carson Vavruska was the top scorer for the Falcons. He pumped in 23 of their 39 points.
Score by Periods: Bulldogs  6   21   16   6    49   Falcons     11  14     8   6    39

Freshman Bulldogs 36 vs. Falcons 18
Emmett Hanson led the way for the Bulldogs’ freshman team against Florence-Henry. He piled up 12 points and snared three rebounds.  Mason Meister made eight points. Josh Pederson contributed six points and four rebounds. Graham Lightfield also made six points and added a rebound.
As a team, the Bulldogs fell short at the free-throw line, but outscored the Falcons 39 to 27 percent. The Falcons top scorer, Tate Hartley, racked up 12 of  Florence-Henry’s 18 points.
Both the JV squad and C team travel with the Bulldogs to Deuel tonight, January 25, to face the Cardinals.

Photos: top- Garrett Mertens and Wylie Mursu