Mertens and Schulte Combine for 44 Points at Tri-Valley Win

Garrett Mertens and Joe Schulte combined for 44 points to spur the Bulldogs to a 63-48 victory at Tri-Valley in Colton on Saturday, February 10. Mertens hammered in five 3-pointers and finished with 25. Schulte had three 3-pointers and finished with 19. The duo also helped cinch Milbank’s third win in a row by teaming up for 10 rebounds and five steals. Mertens added three assists.

Graham Lightfield also made it into double figures. He tacked up 10 points and added two assists. Jaxson Wildung recorded five points, five assists, seven rebounds, and three steals. Este Abrego-Gonzalez put up four points, four rebounds, and a steal. Yohana Ajwanga, a 6’ 6” senior forward, suffered an injury during the game and played only six and a half minutes. His status for the remainder of the season is unknown.

As a team, the Bulldogs claimed 49 percent of their shots from the floor, including 43 percent from behind the arc. They made 12 of 22 from the free throw line to finish at 54.5 percent.

Dakota Valley lacked the horsepower to mount a unified defense against Milbank’s sharp shooting, although Mustang Brady Jewelt put up 17 points. Nine of the 17 came from 3-point buckets. Jewelt also grabbed two steals. Trey Johnson scored nine points.Tristen Bunde made eight. Dakota Valley landed five of 12 from the stripe for 42 percent.

Milbank–18—14—18—13—63
Tri-Valley–6—11—20—11—48

‌JV Game
Milbank 34 vs. Tri-Valley 53
The shoe was on the other foot in the JV Bulldogs’ game. Milbank took the loss at 53-34. Ryan Keeton put up a valiant effort for Milbank with 12 points and five rebounds. Emmett Hanson followed with six points and five rebounds. He also blocked two shots. Mason Meister added five points, three rebounds, and two steals. Sam Rick and Este Abrego-Gonzalez made three points apiece. Rick had three boards and Abrego-Gonzalez had two. Josh Pederson and Jack Howard each made a basket. Layten Osowski hit a free throw and got a rebound. Howie Zemlicka also snagged a rebound.

The Mustangs had three players in double figures. Tiegan Gacke had 17. Ty Oyen got 11, and Aiden Bunde, 10. Mason Hemme led Tri-Valley with six rebounds. Lando Hughes was next with five. Oyen had four.

Tri-Valley hit 41 percent of their shots, including one of three from 3-point land. They hit five of eight from the free throw line – all in the second half— to finish at over 62 percent.

Milbank JV –12—7—13—2—34
Tri-Valley JV–12—11—18—12—53

C -Team Game
Milbank 37 vs. Tri-Valley 27
Milbank’s C team took a 37-27 win to the barn in Colton on Saturday, February 10. Layten Osowski led the Bulldogs with 13 points and five rebounds. Jeter Scoular made seven points and three rebounds. Garrett Weber had five points and six rebounds. Jaxson Wiese, Ethan Owen, and Harley Zemlicka each put up four points. Wiese added two rebounds and three steals. Owen nabbed seven rebounds and three steals.. Zemlicka got credit for two rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots. Liam Street recorded an assist. Aiden Kelly grabbed one rebound.

Both teams cleared around 37 percent of their shots from the floor, including 13 percent from long range. They were also neck and neck at the free throw line. The Bulldogs came in at 31 percent, and the Panthers at 29 percent.

Milbank C–8—11—4—14—37
Tri-Valley C–8–4—10—5—27

‌What’s next? Milbank hosted Estelline-Hendrickson on Monday, February 12, and came away with a 78-58 win. See all the exciting details here on The Valley Express.