New Year’s week was not bad for the Milford boys’ basketball team, according to Coach Mitchell Marvin.
The Eagles finished as the runner-up at the Lincoln Lutheran Holiday Tournament, beating Holdrege 69-57 and losing to Platteview 57-48 Dec. 30 and 31 and then beat North Bend Central 56-44 at home Jan. 3.
While Milford got the win over Holdrege, it wasn’t easy, Marvin said. The Eagles led by 15 early in the second quarter, but Holdrege cut the lead to two in the second half.
“Credit our guys. They were able to shoot well from three and limited turnovers,” Marvin said.
He said the story of the game was shooting percentage – Milford connected on nine of 21 three-point shots for 43% and 26 of 62 overall for 42%.
Both Colby Rautenberg and Landon Roth recorded double doubles for Milford. Each scored 17 points with Rautenberg’s coming both inside and outside (three three-pointers and three dunks). Rautenberg grabbed 12 rebounds, and Roth had 11.
The win put Milford in the final against Platteview, and the Eagles came out flat-footed, Marvin said. PHS led 26-5 at the end of the first quarter.
“We had seven missed layups and seven turnovers. It was disastrous,” Marvin said.
The team righted the ship after that, but couldn’t dig out of the hole.
“The kids never quit,” Marvin said.
Rautenberg notched another double double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Roth scored 13, and Gage Dunlap added nine.
The Eagles were back home to end the week and played a “good get-right game,” Marvin said.
North Bend is a quick team that plays “chaos basketball,” Marvin said.
“It’s fun but scary,” he said.
Rautenberg was the Eagles’ answer in the first half, scoring 13 of his 15 points before the break. He finished his third double double of the week with 13 rebounds.
Connor Adams was the team’s leading scorer with 16 points. Roth added 13. Marvin said Adams also played great defense for the entire game.
“He defended for 32 minutes. He did what he always does,” the coach said.
Up next for Milford (6-5) was one game – at home against Malcolm (5-5) Thursday, Jan. 8. Tip off is set for 7:45 p.m.
“They’re solid and defend incredibly well,” Marvin said of the Clippers. “They hold people below their average and find ways to score.”
Plus, the game is a rivalry, he said, and you never know what might happen.
