MIller basketballers sweep super night over visiting Diamond squads

It was a packed house in Miller, Friday night for a super night that featured both boys and girls teams playing, the jersey retirement of softball legend, and it was homecoming. Miller concluded the night with a four game sweep including both JV teams winning, the girls getting the job done, 39-33, and the boys winning a 65-58 overtime thriller.

Girls
The girls started the night looking for their second win over a Diamond team that has been state-ranked for most of the season. The Lady Cardinals downed Diamond in the Gem City Classic championship back in December 44-33 and the Lady Wildcats were looking for some revenge.
Miller took a quick 10-4 lead behind threes from freshman Ashlynn Helton and senior Rose Hill. Diamond’s Grace Frazier responded with a 6-0 run herself to tie the game. Miller would get a fast-break bucket from another freshman, Rachel Nunez, and took a 12-11 lead into the second quarter. Both defenses stepped up and struggles from the free throw line for Miller started to play a role in the game, as Miller was held to just seven points in the second quarter. Fortunately, the defense from the Lady Cardinals was once again the story of the game and held the opposition to seven as well, and the Lady  Cardinals took a slim 19-18 into the break.
The Lady Cardinals defense came out of the break on a whole different level not allowing a single bucket in the third quarter. Just three free throws from Frazier was all Diamond mustered while Miller enjoyed their highest scoring output of the game behind five points from yet another freshman Loghann Leivan, as part of her team high 12 points put the Lady Cardinals up 35-21.
The roles were reversed in the fourth quarter as Nunez got a bucket to fall and Helton hit two free throws for all of their points in the crucial fourth. Lauren Turner had a big final quarter for Diamond scoring eight of the Lady Wildcats 12 fourth quarter points but the Lady Cardinals defense was able to hold on and make defensive stands when they needed it most as Miller defeated Diamond 39-33.
“We circled this one over the summer. We knew they wanted to be the top team in the SWC and we talked about that we have been that team to beat and let's not let teams declare themselves as the top team," Miller coach Ryan White said following the game.
The Lady Cardinals move to 16-4 for the year with more SWC action coming this week. After their matchup with Pleasant Hope Monday getting cancelled due to winter weather, they were scheduled to take on Ash Grove Tuesday before traveling to Lockwood on Friday. Both of these games are scheduled to be super nights with the boys playing after.

Boys
As the excitement of the girl’s victory started to simmer down, the Cardinals were ready to tip off against a gritty Diamond team. Miller’s defense came out stifling as Diamond only got three points to fall in the opening quarter. Miller sophomore Jarod Lung in the meantime got his first of five three pointers to fall as Miller jumped out 9-3 after one quarter.
Diamond's offense woke up and managed more buckets but still trailed at the half 23-18.
After a chippy third quarter, the fourth belonged to Jarod Lung as he knocked down huge shot after huge shot. It started with back-to-back threes just under four minutes to play that gave Miller a 49-46 lead. Diamond battled back and tied the game at 50. Lung would come up huge again hitting another three with just 23 seconds left to put Miller up 53-50. Diamond would take a timeout to set up their final couple possessions. Diamond drew up a drive to the bucket and drew a foul with 7.8 seconds left. They hit the first one but missed the second. In a scrum for the ball, Diamond regained possession and got another bucket to fall with 2.4 seconds to tie the game at 53 at the final buzzer.
The overtime period belonged to the Cardinals, as they scratched their way to a seven point lead, and earned a hard fought win 65-58.
“We got off to a really good start and thought we had all of the momentum and all of a sudden it stops and they got back into the ballgame,” Miller coach Brandon Weiss said following the game. “We have got a lot to learn after this game. Diamond did a great job.”
Miller improves to 8-10 on the year with more SWC action coming this week. After their matchup with Pleasant Hope, Monday got cancelled due to winter weather, they were scheduled to take on Ash Grove, Tuesday before traveling to Lockwood on Friday.