Millbrook girls basketball
Millbrook's Alex Tomlinson (right) pushes the ball upcourt as Sanderson's Derricka Lewis gives chase Monday night. The Lady Wildcats knocked off the Lady Spartans 51-42.
Williams, Cats clip Spartans
Thanks to Samiyah Williams' 15-point, 12-rebound performance — as well as a 16-7 third-quarter run — the Millbrook girls basketball team knocked off Sanderson 51-42 Monday, Dec. 21.
Lady Wildcat head coach Chris East admitted his squad made a conceded attempt to get the senior forward involved, and she didn't disappoint.
"We made an effort to get it into the post area, and she responded with probably the best game she's had all year," he said. "She got a lot of rebounds — she's not afraid to rebound and she gets after it — I'm just glad it's coming together for her."
East explained the senior has been "frustrated" by her play of late, which included a 2-point effort in a overtime loss to Wakefield Dec. 15.
Click here for highlights of the Millbrook/Sanderson girls basketball game Dec. 21.
But Williams hasn't let her uneven performance affect her effort, East said, adding "she is stepping up and doing everything that we've asked of her."
After playing Sanderson to a 21-21 halftime deadlock, Williams was pivotal in the Lady Wildcats' second-half surge, which powered Millbrook to the nine-point victory.
The Lady Wildcats were lethargic in the first half, but Williams and Company came out firing to start the third quarter, igniting a 10-2 Millbrook run. During the roll, Williams scored five points and Leslie Carlucci nailed a three-pointer.
Millbrook pushed the lead to double digits in the third quarter's final minute, though Sanderson's Erica Brownlow sank a three-pointer, cutting into the Lady Wildcats' lead.
In the final period, Sanderson freshman phenom Derricka Lewis dropped in a lay-up and then two free throws on back-to-back possessions, reducing Millbrook's lead to 40-34 with 3:50 remaining.
But the Lady Wildcats pushed ahead again, and didn't look back.
"I got on our girls a little bit at halftime, and they stepped it up in the third quarter," East said. "I think we only had one defensive letdown during the quarter, when we let one of their best shooters, Erica Brownlow open for a three.
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Other than that I really didn't have many complaints in the third."
In addition to Williams' big night, Courtney Spearman added 10 points, Katelyn Mitchell finished with five and Alex Tomlinson, Taylor Houston, Wylonda Surles and Briana Day added four apiece.
For Sanderson, Lewis tallied a game-high 19 points — and added nine rebounds — Courtney Trumps scored 10 and Donjernica Jones and Australia Crowell dropped in four apiece.
Lewis and the Lady Spartans got off to a great start, battling even with Millbrook through one quarter, then building a sizable second-quarter advantage.
Samiyah Williams (45) dropped 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds Monday night.
The freshman ignited a 6-0 run to start the second with a lay-up, which she then followed with a jumper. And Crowell's jumpshort with 4:05 left in the first half, put the Lady Spartans up 18-9.
However the Lady Wildcats closed the half out strong as Spearman, Tomlinson and Williams each added lay-ups within 40 seconds of one another.
With 35 seconds left in the first half, Williams also hit a jumper shot, tying the game at 21-21.
"Sanderson came out with more intensity and more focus than we did," East said. "Coach (Marcus) Davis does a great job with them, and earlier today I was telling him I hate coming here because I always know it's going to be a tough fight."
The Lady Spartans (4-5) and Lady Wildcats (7-3) will see plenty of each other next week as both are participating at a holiday tournament at Green Hope — though they won't face each other.
Millbrook plays Green Hope Monday, Dec. 28 at 4:30 p.m., Riverside Dec. 29 at 6 p.m., and Panther Creek Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
The Lady Spartans face Panther Creek Monday at 6 p.m., Green Hope Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., and Riverside Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
