Miller Lady Cardinals claim 4th straight SWC Championship

You can check the first accolade off the list for the Lady Cardinals, as a 73-23 win over Marionville, Tuesday completed a perfect conference season, and another SWC championship.
“It is exciting. We are blessed to be in this situation, but coach Price told us that this game dictates how we go into districts so to bring it and let’s get ready for the postseason,” senior Claudia Hadlock said.
Senior Kaylee Helton is excited for the next run.
“It feels really good to know that the season that really matters is beginning now. I have told our teammates that the postseason is the best season, so to know that we are coming into it strong is a great feeling.”

The win over Marionville gives the Lady Cardinals 10 straight wins, and 15 of their last 16 contests.
“I told the girls that we finish getting ready for districts and set the tone by how we play the last couple games. I told them that I’m not worried about how much we win by, but I’m worried about playing good basketball. If we can go into the locker room winning by five but we are playing good basketball that is fine. I would rather that than win by 40 or 50 but not play good basketball,” head coach Sean Price said following the Marionville win.

Miller has done both recently, however, by playing great basketball and winning by a significant margin as they have won their last nine games by an average of 30 points, outscoring their opponents 499-227 in that stretch that included the top-ranked team in Class 3 El Dorado Springs, and three other 20-win teams.

The Lady Cardinals, who finished the regular season an impressive 21-3, opened up district play Monday against Wheaton. A Cardinal win would set a district championship against either 2-seed College Heights or a rematch against 3-seed Marionville, at 6 p.m. Thursday in Verona.

Miller boys
The boys team was victorious in their district opener against Purdy, in a 34-27 defensive struggle. The team has been playing their best ball down the stretch as they played the best the SWC has to offer in tight battles that ended up going the wrong way late. The boys currently sit at 8-18 and will face their toughest battle of the season Tuesday against top-seed College Heights in the district semifinals. The Cardinals battled the Cougars tight early this season, but ultimately fell 47-33. The rematch, with everything on the line, will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Verona.