10:00 | If Wednesday’s Northtown showdown between Jordan and Millikan was a race, it would have looked like this—two competitors go neck and neck for the first 75 meters, then one stumbles as the other accelerates into the final stretch.  When the score was knotted up at 33 after 3 quarters, it was easy to expect another classic—after all, these two teams have already had two incredible finishes this season.  But Jordan, who were led by Armani Wiley’s 24 points and 8 rebounds, scored 26 points in the final frame to pull ahead and win, 59-42.  The victory puts Jordan a good way towards cinching up second place, as they’re 6-1 and have only lost to Poly, while Millikan falls to 4-3 in a tie with Wilson for third.

It really did seem, though, like this game was going to go the stretch—it was 17-15 Jordan at the half, with neither team able to take control.  The Rams didn’t score in the second quarter until six minutes in, and they committed 10 first-half fouls, 12 turnovers, and went 1-7 from the free throw line, yet still only found themselves down by two.  They were unable to get the ball inside to Hilary Drinovsky, who had a big height advantage.  “They were fronting her with deep help,” said Millikan coach Lorene Morgan, “which means someone’s open—but we couldn’t find the open player.  Then when [Drinovsky] was open in the fourth quarter, we couldn’t find her.”

It was an effective disruption of the Millikan offense—which is why Jordan coach Adara Newidouski was more impressed with her team’s defense down the stretch, than their scoring explosion.  “I told them, for the first three minutes of the fourth quarter we just need to step it up one level defensively, and we can get a run,” she said.  “Our offense comes from our defense.”  Her words proved true, as Jordan went out 12-3, and shot free throws well down the stretch to hang on (Wiley was 6-6 from the line in the fourth quarter).

“With how things have been before this year, we’re trying to make a statement,” said Wiley after the game.  “With this being for second place—I’m not trying to sound cocky, but after the third quarter we were like, ‘Let’s get this game over.'”  Wiley was backed up by her sidekick, Danesha Long, who had 18 points, four boards, two steals, and an assist.

Drinovsky was the leader for Millikan with nine points and nine boards; she attempted just nine shots in the game.