Trailing 41-32 going into the final quarter, it looked as if the Milano Eagles were going to end the season tied with juggernaut Thorndale for first place.
However, the Eagles were able to avoid a play-in game with the Bulldogs, thanks to a 26-point fourth quarter. MHS senior Layne Telg made two of the team’s four three-pointers in the fourth.
“It was crazy, my heart was racing after that,” Telg said post-game.
Even though the Eagles erased the eight-point deficit midway through the fourth, Thorndale was anything but finished, battling until the last seconds of the game.
When the game finally did end, Milano players celebrated the school’s first district championship in 10 years.
“Anytime you go into somebody else’s gym where they practice everyday and take way more shots than you do, it’s hard to come in and beat them,” MHS coach Lee Essman said. “Especially with a team like this, that has tradition and pride in themselves. Those guys battled, they’re a good team.”
Jayce Todd led the Eagles with 16 points while Layne Telg had 14 and Weston Avrett scored 10. Bryson Richards had 9, Ethan Gordon scored 6 and Gael Alcala had 3.
PLAYOFFS—Both Milano and Thorndale played in their bi-district matchup on Tuesday evening.
THS fell to Schulenburg in the first round of the post-season for the second straight year, falling to the Shorthorns, 52-51 at Cedar Creek High School.
This was the final game for Branson McCoy, Dereck Cauble, Colton Merryman and Chance Betak.
In Columbus, the Eagles won their opening round matchup over Bloomington 56-27.
MHS will face Snook in the second round.
Date, time and location will be posted on Reporter social media.
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