Millbrook boys basketball
Millbrook forward Donzell Hill (44) pushes his way into the paint against Durham Riverside in this week's GlaxoSmithKline holiday tournament. The senior put together a stellar tournament, averaging more than 12 points a game in the Wildcats' three games.
GlaxoSmithKline wrap-up
Wildcats drop nail-bitter, recover with two wins
To say the Millbrook boys basketball team held it's own in the GlaxoSmithKline holiday tournament — one of the country's most competitive showcases — is an understatement.
After narrowly losing to Marietta Walton (Ga.) — and N.C. State recruit Ryan Harrow — Monday 61-60 in their tournament opener, the Wildcats regrouped to put together two solid performances, notching wins over Garner and Durham Riverside. (It should be noted Harrow went for 35 points to help Walton avoid the upset to the Wildcats.)
And Millbrook saved the best for last, handing Riverside, which entered the tournament undefeated this season, a 68-61 defeat Wednesday afternoon.
But even that win — the Wildcats led by as many as 14 points in the fourth — didn't come without some drama.
How did the Wildcats make a name for themselves? As cliche as it sounds, it was teamwork. Four different Cats averaged double digits at the holiday event.
Here is a closer look at the Wildcats' three games at the GSK tournament.
Walton 61, Millbrook 60
Here is what I know, though I wasn't there in personal to see it. (Not that I didn't think the game was important. I was traveling back from vacation.)
As mentioned Harrow played an outstanding game in front of a N.C. State partisan crowd.
But the Wildcats hung right there, actually taking a 28-25 advantage into intermission.
(A Walton Web site argues a little bit of homecooking helped the Wildcats stay close — http://www.playballyall.com/wordpress/?p=3224)
Alas Walton surged ahead early in the third, and pulled out the narrow one-point win.
In the loss, Jarrick Brown poured in 16 points, and Donzell Hill and Tyrrel Tate added 14 and 13, respectively.
Turnovers hurt the Cats as they coughed up the ball 24 times, while Walton committed just 17 miscues.
Unfortunately, the early loss doomed the Wildcats to playing all morning and early-afternoon games — in front of scarce crowds — and Millbrook never got the attention of some of the later tip-offs.
While the Wildcats rely mostly on seniors like Jarrick Brown (2), sophomore Shi'Chee Moore (5) is stepping up to assume major minutes at point guard right now.
Millbrook 61, Garner 49; Scott McInnes' 300th career victory
After faltering in the first quarter, falling behind 17-12, the Wildcats flexed its offensive muscle pouring in 22 points in the second period, and cruising in a mostly one-sided contest.
The victory was a joint effort as eight Millbook players scored at least four points.
“We came off a hard loss (to Walton), so everyone came in the gym this morning focused and determined not to lose this game,” Tate said after the Garner contest. “We want to stay in this tournament; we want to win.
Hill kickstarted the first-half rally with an alley-oop dunk early in the second quarter, then added another slam three minutes later. (Hill dunking — or grabbing the rim on a dunk attempt — seemed like a regular occurrence during the tournament, which as a videographer, I personally loved.) The senior finished with 13 points and 10 boards in the contest.
Following Hill's high-flying, Tate flashed a glimpse of his all-around game, scoring a rebound and lay-up one play, and draining a trey on the Wildcats' next possession. The five-point swing gave Millbrook a 27-21 advantage with two minutes before intermission. At the break, the Cats led 34-25.
A Hill dunk opened the second half, and after Garner surged within five points, Brown, Mizerk and Rashan Vaughan helped the Wildcats close out the third on a 11-2 run.
The fourth quarter was just a formality as the Wildcats went up by 17 points, 56-39, on Mizerk's long jumpshot with 5:30 left.
Tate finished with 14 points — and nine boards — Mizerk scored nine and Brown tacked on six.
With the victory, McInnes notched his 300th career win.
Afterward, the coach talked about the Wildcats' star-less, but talented roster.
"We don't have a big-time Division I kid out there, we just have a bunch of guys who bring their lunch pail to work," he said.
Tyrrel Tate (with ball) poured in a team-high 16 points in the Wildcats' 68-61 victory over Riverside — one of the best teams in the Triangle.
Millbrook 68, Durham Riverside 61 —
Fifth-place game in Shavlik Randolph Invitational
Don't let the fourth-quarter letdown overshadow the Wildcats' otherwise dominant performance, led by Tate (16 points), Brown (12) and Mizerk (also 12).
Yes, the Wildcats led by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, before the Pirates surged — thanks to T.J. Warren's hot shooting — and closed within one point with a minute remaining. (The Riverside big man cashed in a game-high 22 points, including 11 in the final quarter. He is a big-time talent, with outstanding range and he is definitely one to watch out for.)
But the Wildcats' prevailed regardless, and pulled it out thanks to two seniors stepping up.
First, Errick Davis dropped in a difficult lay-up, and then Hill went to the line and converted four clutch free throws ending all suspense.
Afterward, McInnes seemed bittersweet with the victory, stating "I hate that it had to go to that. We helped the situation; we were playing really fast. Plus, we missed some bunnies (close looks)."
But don't let the coach fool you, the Wildcats showed plenty of positives in the victory.
First, after playing evenly for most of the first half, the Wildcats pulled away midway through the second quarter as Hill converted a three-point play and Mizerk nailed a trey, giving Millbrook a 31-23 advantage with two minutes remaining before intermission.
Then they continued to push until it was actually detrimental.
But you have to love a team willing to fight instead of holding back.
And don't forget the solid contributions of Brown and sophomore point guard Shi'Chee Moore, who finished combined eight for 11 from the field, and a total of 10 rebounds and six assists.
Aside from their late struggles — the Wildcats missed a handful of point-blank shots which could have tied up the game sooner — the Wildcats looked good. Defensively, Millbrook was solid, getting in passing lanes and forcing turnovers — especially early.
Although McInnes stymied any talk of Millbrook being a team to watch out for after the contest, shrugging off a question about his talented team.
Though the coach provided a great press conference moment when asked about Warren's late surge, including two deep three-pointers.
Looking at Hill, McInnes laughed "One of them was right in your face, wasn't it?"
To which the senior could only smirk, "It was a good shot."
Coach Scott McInnes (in the tie, duh) notched his 300th career win at the GSK tournament.
What are Coach McInnes' thoughts?
So the Wildcats finished fifth in the Shavlik Randolph portion of the GSK, what does that mean?
It means Millbrook isn't going to be overlooked in the Triangle.
But McInnes wants his team to remain levelheaded, and if that means he has to knock his team down from time to time, the coach doesn't mind.
Asked if his Cats were ready to challenge Cap-7 frontrunner Enloe after handily defeating Garner, the coach laughed and explained, "That's called a trap question. No, we're not ready to handle Enloe. Eventually. Maybe we will get there."
McInnes then reasoned although his Wildcats are senior-laden, it's a young group in terms of experience. Even Tate, a 12th-grader, and one of Millbrook's biggest stars, has limited big-game history.
Playing in the GSK tournament should speed up these young Cats learning curve.
Hill (from left), Moore and Tate answer questions following Millbrook's win over Garner Tuesday. One of the nice features of the GSK tournament is the post-game interviews, where coaches and players talk with the media, sharing their thoughts on the games — just moments after the fact.
My conclusions
I love the all-around games of Brown and Tate, who are capable of beating you in numerous ways. Tate has the size to battle low (18 boards in three games) or can drain the long-range two or three if Millbrook needs it. Brown is a guard with the toughness of a post-player. He is steady with the ball, but can effectively post up anybody guarding him.
Likewise, Hill brings an athleticism to the front court which opponents have trouble matching. The Wildcats feed off him, and when he's making big plays, you can see the team's confidence grow.
Mizerk struggled from beyond the arc at the GSK — 4 for 15 during the tourney — but he's as deadly a shooter as there is in the Cap-7 Conference, so I'll give him a pass. Plus, he had a great lay-up finish against Garner, twisting and contorting himself for the basket, and it made great video.
Not to be overlooked, but Moore (eight steals at the GSK) was everything you could ask for from a primary ball-handler — as well as a sophomore. He wasn't flashy, but solid and that's what Millbrook needs.
McInnes said Moore has "come out of nowhere" to help this team. And the coach has shown great confidence in the 10th-grader, giving him a starting role and major minutes.
Finally, I wanted to make note of Vaughan's nice contributions off the bench, tallying nine points against Garner and four more versus Riverside. He's long, athletic and he picks his moments wisely, attacking the basket when he's sure to get a good look.
And that's a wrap on the GSK tournament. It's time to get back into conference play!
But first, Millbrook hosts Apex to start the New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 7:30 p.m.
