Miners, Tigers go extra time
BY MIKE NATHAN
Sports Writer
The Wilton-Wing Miners boys basketball team headed to the McLean County Shootout this weekend after a week layoff from their previous tournament in Mandan. The Miners closed out the Holiday tournament strong with a win versus New Salem-Almont.
The Miners would face a good team in New England who has won four straight against some quality opponents.
The first half opened with the Miners willing to give up a perimeter player of the Tigers to send another man inside on the big man Cody Holt. Holt is a load standing 6’8” and weighing about 250 lbs.
The strategy would work in the first quarter with Nick Backman scoring eight points including two threes that would help the team jump out to a 14-12 lead.
In the second, scrappy sophomore Tanner Miller, would give the Miners a lift with some gritty inside play, tracking down offensive rebounds and nifty put backs to hold the Miners up by two at the break 25-23.
The third quarter would be a tough one with the big man of New England gaining some traction inside on both ends leading his team scoring all nine points to give the Tigers the lead by one at the end of three 32-31.
