HS BOYS BASKETBALL: Dawgs tourney journey ends in district final

PHOTOS BY AMBER DOTY

From left, seniors Dillon Horst, Ezra Miller and Liam Riggenbach

Dalton’s Braylon Wenger

Dalton’s Jaden Schlabach

Dalton senior Liam Riggenbach

Dalton’s Jack Steiner

Dalton junior Jalen Wenger

Dalton’s Braylon Wenger scored a team-high 13 points.

The Dawgs ended the season with a 19-5 record after their loss to Richmond Heights in the Division IV Northeast 3 district final.

Bulldogs cheerleaders Friday at the district tournament at Brush High School.

By ARIEL STAHLER
Gazette & News sports writer

Dalton High School’s journey in the tournament ended with a loss to Richmond Heights in the Division IV Northeast 3 district final. The Dawgs ended the season with a 19 5 record.

No. 2 seed Dalton faced No. 6 Independence in the district semifinal at home March 2. Dalton won 88-71 to advance to the district final. The Dawgs jumped out to an early 17-13 lead in the first quarter. They extended their lead to 42-33 at halftime. Dalton outscored Independence by 10 points in the third quarter. The Blue Devils attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Dalton had already secured the victory.

Jalen Wenger put in 23 points for the Dawgs. Ezra Miller added 17 points. Braylon Wenger contributed 12 points, while Jaiden Malone scored 11 points and passed five assists.

Liam Riggenbach dropped in eight points. Jack Steiner’s lucky number was seven as he scored seven points and grabbed seven boards. Jaden Schlabach finished with four points. Quentin Lehman nailed one triple. Owen Beatty and Kyrie Gaut combined for three points.

Dalton faced adversity in their March 5 district final game against No. 1 Richmond Heights that was too much to overcome.

At the top of the list was an ankle injury suffered by Jalen Wenger in the second quarter. Wenger, who finished with seven points, returned in the second half, but the injury kept him from playing at his usual power.

His brother Braylon Wenger scored a team-high 13 points.

Seniors Riggenbach and Miller, who played their final game for Dalton, along with fellow senior Dillon Horst, each scored six points apiece, with Riggenbach also snagging five rebounds. Steiner added four points. Malone scored three points and dished two assists.