At least early in the season, Miller isn’t messing around with its schedule. The Mavericks opened the 2011-2012 campaign Thursday night with a clash against regional power R.E. Lee at Western Albemarle’s Tip-Off Tournament.
The defending VISAA Division 3 state champions picked up right where they left off and edged out Lee with a 60-56 victory over Lee.
“Any time you play a Group AA runner-up, you’re going to get tested,” said Miller coach James Braxton. “They gave us all we could handle.”
The Mavericks held off a 23-point effort from James Madison University commitment and 2011 first team all-state honoree Angela Mickens and they did it with a balanced attack of their own. Ashleigh Claybrooks posted a double double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Whitney Martin finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds and point guard Taylor Sandidge checked in with 18 points and six assists.
When Martin and Rachel Odumu, who had four points, contribute, it makes Miller extremely tough to defend.
“That causes other teams not to be able to focus on Sandidge or Claybrooks,” Braxton said. “We can spread it around.”
Miller will now face Western Albemarle in the Tip-off tournament championship Saturday night.
