The Miller City Wildcats came in from Putnam County to visit the Tinora Rams as both teams closed out the 2023 calendar.

Miller City entered with a 6-2 mark, while the Rams were still trying to find a grove this young season entered at 1-5.

A very tight first quarter saw the Wildcats and Rams trade punches throughout, with Miller City exiting with a 15-13 advantage after the initial quarter.

The Wildcats came out in the second quarter firing on all cylinders, outscoring Tinora 15-6, exiting with a 30-19 lead as the teams went to the half.

A very balanced scoring attack for both team in the initial half, Miller City had 8 in the scoring column, while the Rams had six score.

Mill City’s Andon Ruhe led all scorers with nine at the half, Tinora was paced by Aiden Rittenhouse with six.

The third quarter opened with Tinora quickly closing the gap to five points, Connor Welling helped squeeze the lead with three quick steams that led to Tinora buckets. Aiden Rittenhouse was starting to heat us as well for Tinora as the Rams closed the gap initially only to see the Wildcats stretch the lead back out to 43-30 to end the third.

Quarter four saw the Rams Rittenhouse try to bring the Rams back, Aiden had a game high 21 points. The Rams Owen Ackerman also had a few key buckets in the final quarter as Tinora again closed the gap to just five and again saw Miller City string it back to double digits midway through the final period.

Miller City would get key buckets down the stretch from Brendon Barlage and Silas Niese as the Wildcats eventually pulling away for a 59-48 road win.

Miller City 15-15-13-16=59
Tinora   13-6-11-18=48

Miller City scoring: B Barlage 14, E Barlage 9, S Niese 11, Gerten 4, Weis 2, J Otto 4, W Otto 3, A Ruhe 12

Tinora scoring: Ackerman 10, Welling 6, Holier 5, Rittenhouse 21, Spychala 2, McQuillin 4

JV – Miller City 53-27

Miller City improves to 7-2, the Wildcats are back in action on Jan. 8 vs. Pandora-Gilboa

Tinora drops to 1-6 and will be back at it Jan 5 at home vs. Edgerton to start GMC play.