This is actually how it was supposed to be.
Quadir Pettaway pouring it in, the entire Miller lineup sharing the ball and stingy defense leading the Mavericks to a more comfortable than the final score indicates 67-56 win over Highland.
It just took a circuitous path to get back to how it was supposed to be.
“It felt good to come out here and knock a couple of shots down,” Pettaway said. “It felt like every single shot I took was money, this is a big game for me. It’s good to be back.”
While working on an off-court service project last fall, Pettaway suffered a harrowing, life-threatening injury, forcing him into the pediatric ICU for eight days. He recovered, got healthy and returned for the Mavericks a few weeks ago, showing flashes of the player who averaged 28 points per game a year ago and that Miller expected him to be before the injury.
But that was just preamble to the show he unleashed against the Hawks.
“Nobody knows what that kid has been through,” said Miller coach Danny Manuel. “You go in there and see him in the PICU with the tubes hooked up to him three months ago and he comes out here tonight and he’s got a chance to score his 30th point but he pulls the ball out because that’s the right thing to do. Not only is he a great player but that speaks volumes to the kid. That’s kid’s special.”
Pettaway exploded for 28 points including seven 3-pointers, providing the exact spark that a recently stagnant Miller offense needed to get back into the state final four for the third-straight season. His shooting opened things up for the entire Miller offense and with 20 first half points that led to a 42-18 lead, it allowed the Mavericks to comfortably move into the semifinals. It also makes them a decidedly more dangerous No. 3-seed than they may have been just a few days ago when the offense struggled in the VIC semifinals.
“It snowballs, so I pass to you and you’re open and you make it and you pass to me and I’m open and you make it now we love each other,” Manuel said. “Now I’m helping you on defense and we’re rebounding.”
The sophomore has been the missing piece for Miller much of the season. The Mavericks’ defense has been locked in for the most part, but they’ve struggled to get consistent scoring, with DaeDae Heard banged up in particular. He’s still been explosive in spots, but Pettaway’s sudden re-emergence could change how teams, including Virginia Episcopal in the semifinals Friday afternoon at Virginia State University, have to defend Miller. Quite suddenly, Tariq Balogun could see fewer opponents collapsing on him in the post.
John St. Germain, Garrett Payne and Heard each had seven points on the night.Daryl Anderson added a pair of threes for six points.
The Mavericks will be looking to avenge their 44-42 VIC semifinal loss to those same Bishops. But Wednesday’s performance might indicate they’re better prepared to take on VES this time around.
“We’re going back to the final four for the third year in a row and I feel good about it.” Manuel said. “We haven’t scored all year long and some of that is due to losing Quadir right before the season starts and he just hasn’t been in February form. But he was tonight.”
His timing couldn’t be better. After all, this is actually how it was supposed to be.
