Milbank Shows Strong Season Start With Hoops Victories

Varsity– Milbank 69 vs. Sisseton 24
The Bulldogs varsity basketball team shut down the Sisseton Redmen in Milbank’s season opener at the Milbank Armory on December 7. The Bulldogs took charge in the first quarter, which ended at 18-13, and never looked back. They led the entire game and obliterated the Redmen 69-24.

‌Garrett Mertens put up 21 points for Milbank. Joe Schulte made 12. Yohana Ajwanga scored nine. Graham Lightfield and Jackson Wildung each had eight, and Emmett Hanson added four. Jack Howard and Ryan Keeton each posted a deuce – Howard with a bucket and Keeton with free throws. Braylen Bowsher, Sam Rick, and Este Abrego-Gonzalez knocked down a free throw apiece.

‌Mertens and Wildung led the Dawgs in rebounds at eight apiece. Hanson grabbed six. Rick and Keeton each snagged three. Lightfield and Schulte had two apiece. Ajwanga, Bowsher, and Abrego-Gonzalez contributed one each..

‌The Bulldogs shot 54 percent from the floor. They nailed 44 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the line.

‌Sisseton– 13—3—6—2—24
Milbank–18—13—23—15—69

‌JV Team– Milbank 44 vs. Sisseton 34
The Milbank JV team defeated Sisseton 44-34 in the Bulldogs’ season-opener on December 7 at home. Este Abrego-Gonzalez set the pace for Milbank with nine points and 10 rebounds. Josh Pederson put up seven points, Jack Howard and Ryan Keeton each dropped in six. Layten Osowski made four; Mason Meister and Bryan Meyer, each made three; Braylen Bowsher, Emmett Hanson, and Howie Zemlicka made two apiece.

‌Meister and Keeton hauled down four rebounds for Milbank.. Bowsher, Hanson, Zemlicka, and Osowski each got two. Rick, Howard, Pederson, and Meyer commandeered one apiece.

‌Milbank shot 37.5 percent overall. They were seven of 13 from the charity stripe.
Sisseton–12—4—6—12—34
Milbank–12—10—12—10—44

‌C Team– Milbank 34 vs. Sisseton 21
The Milbank C team completed the Bulldogs’ hat trick with a 34-21 victory over Sisseton at 34-21. Harley Zemlicka had a game-high total of 14 points. Jaxson Wiese and Jeter Scoular each made seven points – including one 3-point bomb apiece. Ethan Owen, Aiden Kelly, and Liam Street all knocked down a field goal.

‌Garrett Weber and Owen grabbed five rebounds apiece to lead the team. Zemlicka and Street each had two. Scoular and Liam Heller each pulled down one.

‌Overall, the Bulldogs hit almost 40 percent of their shots from the floor, bolstered by 53 percent in the second half. They secured nearly 67 percent from the line. Wiese went two for two and Zemlicka was four of five.
Sisseton– 6—4—7—4—21
Milbank–11—4—10—9—34