The Milano Eagles boys basketball team had an injury-plagued weekend in their 0-3 performance at the Lexington Tournament.
In their first game, Milano fell 54-28 to Lexington. The Eagles led for most of the first quarter, trailing 18-13 to the mean green at the end of the opening quarter.
In the second, Lexington built a firm lead into halftime 33-15. The Eagles were unable to make up for their opponent’s second quarter run and lost the game.
Milano was led by four-year starter Christian Thurman, who had 16 points. Senior post Arthur Soto went down with a knee injury in the middle of the game, forcing him to miss the rest of the tournament.
“Arthur is scheduled to have his knee checked this week,” said Kyle Edwards, Milano head basketball coach. “We are unsure when he’ll be able to return.”
On Friday afternoon, the Eagles lost 51-36 to class 4A La Grange. The Leopards took control of the game in the second half with a 11 point run in the second half to defeat Milano. In the closing minute of the game, they lost a key player, when Thurman landed on his leg after a hard foul. The four-year starter shot both of his free throws, and was helped back to the bench by assistant coaches.
“Christian is day-to-day with a low ankle sprain,” Edwards said. “He might play this evening (Monday) or maybe we’ll have him play this upcoming weekend.”
Thurman led the Eagles with 15 points. Hayden Weaver and Cordell Spears were also key offensive players in the game with nine and eight points.
The Eagles lost 53-28 to Smithville, another 4A school in their final game of the tournament.
Layne Telg and Weston Averett led the Eagles in scoring with 10 and six points each. Milano was without seniors Soto, Thurman and Jake Turnage, who has yet to play in the 2018-19 season due to a knee injury obtained during football season.
“I was very proud of how my team played in the tourney,” Edwards said. “Without Arthur or Christian, we are very young, and they competed well against the bigger schools we played.
“We know where we want to be as a team, and we’re beginning to develop an identity. We just have to keep working, adding skills, and gaining experience.”
The Eagles play next at the St. Joseph Tournament on Thursday through Saturday. Their first game has yet to be determined.
Lady Eagles - The Milano Lady Eagles went 1-2 this weekend at the Thrall Tournament. Milano lost to Somerville 50-26 and Bruceville-Eddy 45-41. They ended the weekend on a 53-15 win over Burton. Hannah Batten and Kristian Taylor led in scoring with 17 and 10 points in their victory.
“We faced Somerville last year in the playoffs and just went to overtime with Bruceville-Eddy last week,” said Jordan Merkord, MHS girl’s head basketball coach. “Those types of games are great warm-ups for district play.
“We still have a little more than a week until district, but this team is definitely getting closer, and we’re becoming a tougher group on the floor.”
Earlier in the week, the Lady Eagles took down Caldwell 44-32. Taylor led the team in scoring with 20 points. Batten and Sterling Robertson also played key roles in the offense with eight points apiece.
The Lady Eagles played on the road against Rosebud-Lott on Tuesday after press time.
They will play Friday against Weimar in the Fayetteville Tournament. Tipoff is at 10:30 a.m.
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