Milbank Snaps Roncalli’s Winning Streak

That loud noise you heard at the Milbank versus Roncalli basketball game on Friday, February 2, was just the snapping of Roncalli’s three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs traveled to Aberdeen to get the job done.

Milbank could not contain the Cavaliers’ 6’ 3” senior forward Keegan Stewart, and Stewart dumped in 23 points, including three 3-pointers, but the Dogs showed the Cavaliers there’s more than one way to skin a rabbit. Milbank outfoxed Roncalli 51-45.

Garrett Mertens put up 15 points and two assists for Milbank. Yohana Ajwanga made 14 points. Joe Schulte scored 13 and added two assists. Jaxson Wildung made nine points and three assists. Wildung also pulled down nine rebounds. Mertens and Schulte each got six boards, and Ajwanga got five. Emmett Hanson grabbed three rebounds; Graham Lightfield, two; and Este Abrego-Gonzalez, one.

The Bulldogs were also hot from the free-throw line. They put down 17 of 22 to collect on 77 percent, including nine of 10 in the first half. Milbank offered Roncalli six chances from the stripe, and they missed four of them. Overall, the Bulldogs hit 41 percent of their shot attempts from the floor and Roncalli landed 40 percent.

Roncalli also ran into a little foul trouble. Caden Shelton fouled out. Aiden Fisher picked up his fourth. Fisher made 12 points before he exited the game. Maddox Miller scored 10.

Milbank–9—12—12—18—51
Roncalli–12—10—4—19—45

‌JV Game
Milbank 45 vs. Roncalli 13

Emmett Hanson posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to fuel the JV Bulldogs to a 45-13 victory over Roncalli on Friday, February 2. Sam Rick also scored 10 points.

Ryan Keeton added seven points. Charlie Peery and Mason Meister scored six points apiece. Josh Pederson made four points and two assists. Braylen Bowsher scored two points and added two assists and two steals.

The Bulldogs also dominated the boards. Este Abrego-Gonzalez added seven rebounds to Hanson’s 10. Meister and Jack Howard each hauled down four. Rick got two, and Bowsher and Howie Zemlicka grabbed one apiece.

Austin Fisher led the Cavaliers with five points. Joe Cogley, Lucas Doggett, and Finn Anderson each scored two points. Quinten Shelton and Jackson Lewno made one free throw each. Lewno led Roncallli with five rebounds.

The Bulldogs hit 41 percent of their shots from the floor, including one of three from 3-point range. The Cavaliers were five of 25 from the floor for 20 percent, including zero from long range. Milbank recorded a 67-percent average from the line. Roncalli ended at 21.4 percent.

Milbank–11—5—18—11—45
Roncalli–3—6—0—4—13

‌C Team
Milbank 31 vs. Roncalli 25
Jaxson Wiese scored a game-high10 points and three rebounds in the JV Bulldogs’ win over Roncalli on Friday, February 2, in Aberdeen. Layten Osowski put up eight points and five rebounds. Jeter Scoular followed with six points, three assists, and three rebounds. Ethan Owen added four points, a rebound and a steal. Garrett Weber made six rebounds and two steals.

Mack Koplin made a free throw. Harley Zemlicka made two points and one block. Lance Engebretson grabbed a rebound. Aiden Kelly had one rebound and one assist. Liam Street got a rebound and a steal.

The Bulldogs had a great night from the free throw line. They knocked in seven of eight attempts for nearly 88 percent.

Joe Cogley and Austin Fisher led the Cavaliers with six points apiece. Cogley also had four rebounds and Fisher got three.

Milbank–10—9—2—10—31
Roncalli–8—6—6—6—25

What’s next? Milbank travels to Sisseton for conference play tonight, Tuesday, February 6. The varsity Redmen have been struggling all season, and they sit at 3-12 with five straight losses since January 19. The varsity Bulldogs hold a 9-5 record overall and a 4-1 record in Region 1A.