Milbank-Waubay/Summit Game Full of Ups and Downs

The Bulldogs sustained a 46-53 loss at home to undefeated Waubay-Summit on Tuesday, January 17. Logan Diede, head coach for Milbank, said, “Waubay-Summit is a high-quality team that hasn’t lost yet on the year, but I thought we battled, competed during the entire game, and gave ourselves a chance at the end.” 

Diede also quickly noted, “We would like to extend our best wishes to the young man from Waubay-Summit who had a health issue during the JV game. We are thinking of him and wishing him a speedy recovery!

On the other end of the spectrum, the Mustangs had two players who breached the 1000-point mark. Damon Opdahl and Jonathon Johnston, both seniors, joined that elite club of high school basketball players. 

For Milbank, Yohanna Ajwanga recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Joe Schulte led the Bulldogs in scoring. He rattled in 14 points, including two rockets from long range. Garrett Mertens tacked on 11 points and made two rebounds.

Jaxson Wildung claimed 10 defensive rebounds and put up six points for the Bulldogs. Graham Lightfield made three points and a rebound. Max Lightfield grabbed two rebounds. 

Milbank committed 14 turnovers and the Stangs made them pay. Damon Opdahl racked up 20 points and ripped past his 1000 career-point mark. Jackson Wohlleber pulled off six steals and 16 points. Jonathan Johnston added 11 points for the Waubay-Summit – one of which gave him his 1000th point. 

“Waubay- Summit really had the advantage on us at the free throw line,” Diede commented. “They were 17 of 21, and we were four of 14.” That left Milbank at 29 percent from the charity stripe and Waubay-Summit at 81 percent –a game-changer. From the floor the Bulldogs outshot the Mustangs. Waubay-Summit connected on just one of three for 33 percent. Milbank finished at 40 percent. 

“There is no quit in our boys, though, and I’m proud of how we kept battling through adversity,” Diede added. Waubay-Summit made us a better team.”

The Bulldogs will be ready when they meet the Groton Tigers at the Milbank Armory tonight, Thursday, January 19.

JV Game: Milbank 40 vs. Waubay-Summit 28

The Milbank JV team tangled with Waubay-Summit on Tuesday, January 17, and walked away with the win.  Milbank was ahead by nine at the half, but the Mustangs wiggled their way back into the game to tie things up at 26 at the end of the third quarter. The Bulldogs took charge in the fourth, though, and stepped up to rein in Waubay-Summit’s scoring streak. MIlbank poured in 14 points and held the Stangs to just two points. The Bulldogs earned the “W” at 40-28.

Emmett Hanson set the pace for Milbank with 12 points and seven rebounds. Braylen Bowsher also put up 12 points, including two three-point torpedoes. Mason Meister added six points and pulled down a rebound.

Ryan Keeton, Jack Howard, and Bowsher each controlled three rebounds. Josh Pederson and Este Abrego-Gonzalez had two apiece, and Mason Meister and Bryan Meyer each had one.

The Bulldogs finished with a 37 percent shooting average and the Stangs were at 36 percent. Waubay-Summit knocked in both of their free throws and Milbank made two of seven for 57 percent. 

Traveion Nielan and Teegan Gaikowski were the Mustang’s top scorers. They each had eight points. Jayven Maag made seven rebounds.

Score by Quarters: Milbank– 9/10/7/14–40 Waubay-Summit– 6/4/16/2-28

The Bulldogs’ JV team meets the Groton Tigers tonight, January 19, at the Milbank Armory.

C Team: Milbank 39 vs. Waubay-Summit 27

Este Abrego-Gonzalez and Layten Osowski each dumped in eight points to push the Bulldogs’ C team to a 39-27 victory over Waubay-Summit in Milbank on January 17. Abrego-Gonzalez also took down eight rebounds. 

Ryan Keeton made two buckets. Charlie Peery banged in a three-pointer. Garrett Weber, Ethan Owen, and Greg chipped in two points apiece. 

The Bulldogs shot 49 percent from the floor and 67 percent from the free-throw line.

Top Scorers for Waubay-Summit were Kolt Mendenhall with 10 points and Camden Nielan with nine. Mendenhall was also their top rebounder. He brought down four. 

The Bulldogs’ JV team meets the Groton Tigers on their own turf tonight, January 19, at the Milbank Armory.

Photos: Graham Lightfield sends up a three point attempt while Coach Diede looks on. Bottom-Max Lightfield heads to the basket.