Milan Boys Open League with 42-36 Win

The Milan varsity boys’ basketball team kept Huron League rival New Boston Huron at bay Tuesday night in the league opener, finishing with a hard-fought 42-36 win.

The Big Reds took an early 6-2 lead in a low-scoring first quarter and managed to hold on to it through the second to end the half on top 20-13.

The Chiefs did not give up at any point in the game and kept the Big Reds in sight through the third quarter, but Milan maintained its edge, 27- 24, never relinquishing the lead.

In the fourth quarter, New Boston managed to tie the score 29-29 with 4:28 remaining to play. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, but Milan continued a fierce defensive effort to preserve the win.

Junior guard Andre Duffin led the scoring with 16 points followed by junior forward Austin Elam with nine. Juniors Jiles Neely, guard, and Tory Martinsen, forward/center, both put in six points.

“It was a great win for us,” said Milan junior guard Jiles Neely, “It was our first game after a long break and it took us awhile to get back into it.”

“We played Milan basketball and played it well enough to get through with the win,” senior center Spencer Dennison said.

“Our goal was not to give up more than 40 points,” said Milan head coach Josh Tropea. “Maas [Jeremy] came of the bench and did a really good job for us. We have a great bunch of kids, just unbelievably fine young men who do everything together.”

The Big Reds were playing without the services of Calvin Turnage, Jr., who pulled a tendon and has not been able to practice for eight days. Tropea said that he hopes the double-double sophomore guard will be back in two or three weeks.

The varsity improved its record to 4-1 with the win but the Milan junior varsity was nicked, 50-39, by the junior Chiefs.