Bulldogs Beat the Bearcats

Garrett Mertens pounded in 18 points and Joe Schulte nailed 11 to lead Milbank to a 52-31 victory at the Milbank Armory on Friday, February 17. Jaxson Wildung drilled seven points, and also did some heavy lifting in the rebound department. He pulled down 13. Schulte and Johana Ajwanga added six rebounds. Ajwanga also knocked in a field goal. Schulte walked away with two steals.

Emmett Hanson had four points to go with his four rebounds. Justus Osborn scored three points and two rebounds. He also nicked three steals. Tice Mursu made four points and Graham Lightfield put in two. Braylen Bowsher and Aiden Ludvigson each hauled down one rebound.

The Bulldogs got warmed up in the first two quarters to lead 18-14. They then chiseled out a serious lead by scoring 34 points in the second. They connected on six of 22 in the first two quarters and bumped that up to 11 of 22 in the second for an average of 39 percent. Their percentage at the line also soared from four of seven or 57 percent in the first two periods to 11 of 13 or 85 percent in the second to settle at 75 percent overall. 

The Bearcats’ leading scorer, Mathew Mount,  produced 11 points and three rebounds. Ian Lesnar was next with seven points and three rebounds.  

Webster made 26 percent of their field goals, including 27 percent from beyond the arc. They hit three of their 10 attempts from the stripe.

What’s next? The annual Battle of the Bulldogs takes place this year in Milbank on Monday, February 20.

JV Game—-Milbank 43 vs. Webster 29

The JV Bulldogs basketball team took a bite out of the Bearcats with a final score of 43-29 on Thursday, February 16, in MIlbank.  Bryan Meyer and Emmett Hanson both ended up in double figures for the Bulldogs. Meyer scored 12 points. Hanson made 10. Hanson was also the Dawgs leading rebounder at six.

Josh Pederson made six points and three rebounds. Ryan Keeton had four rebounds and a steal. Jack Howard put up three.points and a rebound. Graham Lightfield and Mason Meister each scored four points and grabbed two rebounds apiece. Este Abrego-Gonzalez and Braylen Bowsher scored two points apiece and both snagged a rebound.

The score was tied at 19 at the half, but the Bulldogs poured in 24 big ones in the last two quarters to run away with the win.

Milbank secured 42 percent of their shots from the floor; Webster hit 25 percent. The Bulldogs were also twice as accurate from long range at 36 percent. They rolled in nine of their 12 free throw attempts for 75 percent and the Bearcats made four of eight.

What’s next? The annual Battle of the Bulldogs takes place this year in Milbank on Monday, February 20.

C-Team Game

Milbank’s C-team was behind 17-10 at the half, but they turned up the gas in the second half to burn Webster 29 to 24 on February 16 on the Bulldogs’ home court. 

Ryan Keeton was the leading scorer in the game. He put up nine points and pulled down four rebounds. Braylen Bowsher was next for Milbank with five points and a rebound. Ethan Owen and Howie Zemlicka each dropped in four points. Owen added four rebounds. 

Garrett Weber and Este Abrego-Gonzalez scored three points apiece. Weber made four rebounds and Abrego-Gonzalez added three. Jack Howard hit a free throw and grabbed two rebounds.

The Bulldogs ended the game with a 31 percent shooting average. The Bearcats sat at 27 percent. Milbank made six of 13 from the charity stripe for 46 percent. Webster made three of eight for 37.5 percent.

What’s next? The annual Battle of the Bulldogs takes place this year in Milbank on Monday, February 20.

Photos: Emmett Hanson finishes a play with a shot right under the basket.
Bottom – Tice Mursu puts an exclamation point on at the end of the game with an easy basket.