The Milan Ladycats varsity basketball squad was host to the South Harrison Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 in an important Grand Rivers Conference contest.
The first half was a very competitive battle. The second half saw the Ladycats turn up the tempo using their experience and spanked the young Lady Bulldogs on their way to a comfortable 72-58 victory.
The Milan Ladycats kept their unblemished conference record at 5-0. For the season the state ranked Ladycats improved to 14-2.
South Harrison won the opening tip and hit the game’s first shot to lead 3-0. Cady Pauley hit a deuce and an old fashion 3-pointer, giving Milan a 5-3 advantage. The teams exchanged buckets and South Harrison took their last lead, 9-7. Cady scored the Ladycats next 7 points to put Milan in front, 14-9. Cady scored Milan’s first 16 points before Auburn Cole on an assist from Emerson Pauley hit a 2-pointer before the first quarter buzzer sounded. Milan 18, South Harrison 13.
The Lady Bulldogs scored first to begin the second stanza before Cady ripped off 8 straight points and Emma Whitlock put back an offensive rebound for 2 points. The 10-0 run increased the Ladycat lead to 13, 28-15. With the Ladycats leading, 30-17, South Harrison went on a 10-0 run cutting the deficit to 3 points, 30-27. Cady Pauley splashed a trey as the quarter came to a close. At halftime Milan led 33-27 and Cady led Milan with 29 first half points.
After intermission, Milan ran off 9 unanswered tallies to stretch the margin to 15, 42-27. Cady had 5 points, 1 assist; Janissa Martinez 2 assists; Auburn, and Gracie had 2 points apiece in the 9-0 stretch. The young, foul riddled Lady Bulldogs appeared over matched at this point.
Cady added 8 more points in the quarter and Avery Pickering had an assist to Gracie, canning a 3-pointer. Milan led 53-36 after 3 quarters.
The fourth quarter saw the Ladycat bench empty and several Ladycats gain game experience. Milan coasted and recorded the victory 72-58.
Cady led Milan with 53 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocked shots; Gracie popped in 5 points, 1 rebound; Avery Pickering 4 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal; Auburn 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal; Emma Whitlock 2 point, 3 rebounds, 1 steal; Bobbi Ann Richardson 2 points, 1 rebound; Amy Pickering 1 point, 4 rebounds, 1 steal; Janissa Martinez 1 point, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Emerson Pauley 1 rebound, 1 assist; Emily Menchaca 2 rebounds.
