On the final night of the first round of league play, the Millikan Rams and Jordan Panthers both wanted to end on a positive note—it was the Rams who succeeded, in a 47-36 performance that keeps their record “and one,” at 5-1.  The Panthers, who started the season 2-0, have lost three of their last four, and are now 3-3.

Millikan’s win certainly wasn’t spotless, as they scored only five points in the first quarter, and just four in the third—Jordan won those periods by a combined score of 20-9.  But the Rams more than made up for it with a 21-point offensive explosion in the second, and 17 in the fourth (they won the even periods 38-16).  In the first quarter the Rams had four turnovers, and shot just 2/13 from the field—apparently they drank plenty of Gatorade after that, because they shot 9/17 in the second quarter, and wrestled a five point lead at the half, 26-21.  The fiery-hot shooting was capped by Ashley Mitchell’s halfcourt three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Then in the third they were flat again, shooting 2/12, not moving the ball effectively against Jordan’s zone; Jordan didn’t capitalize as much as they should have, only scoring nine points themselves, but it was good enough to tie the game at 30 points apiece heading into the final eight minutes.  For the first three minutes it was a seesaw, with four lead changes.  Then, up 36-35, Ashley Mitchell decided it was time to put it away, ripping the ball away from a Panther and scoring an easy layup—Jaslyn Cosey added a three, and Mitchell skied to tip a rebound back in to the bucket.  Cosey scored again to cap an 11-0 Millikan run that put the game away—Jordan didn’t make things any easier on themselves, as they started popping long jumpers shortly after Millikan taking the lead.  The Rams hung on for the win, while Jordan, for the second home game in a row, watched their opponent take over in the final five minutes of the game.

“We definitely came out flat,” said Rams coach Lorene Morgan after the game.  “And that’s partly my fault—they came out hard and took advantage of it.  When we settled down and started beating their zone.”

Leaders for Millikan were Mitchell, with 16 points and four assists, Candice Menefee, with ten rebounds and three steals, and Hilary Drinovsky with four points, five rebounds, and three blocks.  The Panthers’ Armani Wiley scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds in the first half, but added just three points and three rebounds in the second; Montanique Washington scored twelve, and Artavia Gilliard grabbed nine boards.

To see where Millikan and Jordan stand, check back tomorrow for our league standings, and shortly after for our preview of the second half of the Moore League season!