The 60th Annual Milan Invitational Basketball Tournament
The 60th Annual Milan Invitational Basketball Tournament
The 60th Annual Milan Invitational Basketball Tournament was held January 13-18. Because of inclement weather, the final two days are being rescheduled. Consolation and Championship games will be decided Monday, January 20, 2020 for both girls bracket and boys bracket. Girls’ Consolation is Putnam County vs Brashear. Girls’ Championship is Milan vs Green City. Boys’ Consolation is Green City vs Novinger. Boys’ Championship is Milan vs Brashear.
The boys’ bracket had Milan the Number 1 seed, Novinger the 2 seed, Marceline 3 seed, Putnam County 4 seed, Green City 5 seed, Linn County 6 seed, Brashear 7 seed, and Bucklin-Macon County 8th seed.
Monday’s contest saw the upset of the tournament as Number 7 seed Brashear defeated the 2 seed Novinger 58-40. Brashear advanced to battle the 3 seed, Marceline squad who beat the 6th seed Linn County 75-73. Brashear advanced to the Championship contest upsetting the 3 seed, Marceline in overtime.
Meanwhile, Tuesday, January 14, Putnam County defeated Green City, 59-54 and move onto the next round against the Milan Wildcats who thrashed Bucklin-Macon County 93-19.
The Wildcats, totally out classed Bucklin-Macon County, racing out to a 37-4 first quarter, coasting to a 93-19 victory. Eddie Gonzalez topped the scoring with 13 in the first stanza. Hunter had 8, Ryan 6, Dre 5, Kaleb 3, and Alexis 2. The bench was emptied in the second quarter as 7 players tallied. Milan led 64-8 at intermission.
Milan led 77-17 at the end of three quarters. Final was, Milan 93, Bucklin-Macon County 19. Twelve players scored enroute to the victory. Eddie paced Milan with 18 points, 3 assists, and 5 steals. Hunter had 14 points, 3 steals, and 3 blocked shots. Ryan had 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals. Jeremy Bennett had 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 6 steals. Michael Pipes had 8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Dre had 8 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Axel Pagan had 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. Kaleb had 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals. John Ray De La Cruz had 3 points. Jerrett Courtney had 3 points. Alexis Roman had 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Chekh Niasse had 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Billy Bahena had 1 assist and 1 steal.
Wildcats Crush Midgets
The Milan Wildcats faced the Putnam County Midgets for the third time this season on Thursday, January 15, 2020. The Midgets reached the second round by defeating the Green City Gophers, 59-54. Defeating a team three times is most times difficult, but the Wildcats were not about to let that happen, defeating Putnam County 69-53 and advance to the Championship encounter vs Brashear, Monday, January 20..
The Midgets scored first and led 4-0 before Eddie hit Hunter and Milan was on the scoreboard. Putnam County scored, then Ryan dropped in 2 points, followed by Dre splashing home a three pointer assisted by Dominic and Milan had their first lead with 2:46 left in the quarter, 7-6. A three pointer by Putnam put the Midgets back in front, 9-7. That would be the last Midget lead. Milan closed out the quarter with a 7-0 run to lead 14-9. Ryan and Dominic hit a deuce apiece before Hunter assisted on a three pointer by Dre at the quarter buzzer and a 14-9 advantage. The Midgets could not recover from that dagger.
Putnam was out scored 17-10 in the second stanza to trail 31-19 at intermission. Eddie was the spark for Milan, notching 9 quarter points, Dre 4, Kaleb and Dominic 2 points apiece.
The Midgets stayed close for the first half, but once again the third quarter belonged to Milan who opened up a commanding 56-31 third quarter margin. The speed and defensive dominance forced the Midgets into several turnovers. Dre led with 8 points, Hunter 6, Eddie and Ryan 4 apiece, and Dominic 3 points.
Putnam could not get closer than 16 as the Wildcats moved on to the Championship with a 69-53 victory.
Dre led Milan with 21 points, 1 rebound, 2 assist, and 2 steals. Eddie had 17 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Hunter had 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. Ryan had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. Dominic had 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Kaleb had 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. Alexis Roman had 2 points and 1 rebound. Axel Pagan had 1 rebound and 1 steal.
