Scrimmage Play correspondent Delaney White contributed to this report.
Miller boys basketball understands the stakes heading into the postseason.
“We laid it out for them that it’s do or die,” said Miller coach Jack Meriwether. “It’s possession-by-possession this time of year, you don’t necessarily play that style you normally play and you just have to make one more play than the other guys.”
Miller played like it was do-or-die early on Tuesday in particular, building a nine-point halftime lead and surging late for a 68-60 win over Peninsula Catholic behind 15 points each from Jordan Horne and Eli DeLaurier, with DeLaurier grabbing 13 boards for a huge double double.
It was a crucial win for the Mavericks to get back to state final four for the first time since 2019, but it’s obvious Miller isn’t satisfied with that significant accomplishment.
“Our biggest enemy is ourselves,” said Eli DeLaurier. “We’re going to enjoy this for a couple of hours and then get back in the lab and keep working. (It’s about) energy and focus, if we do those two things we’re going to win our game.”
Miller slipped in the third quarter and gave up 23 points to PCS in that frame after giving up just 22 in the entire first half. Stylz Gardener hit three of his five total 3-pointers and had 11 of his 17 points in that quarter for Peninsula Catholic while Chris Brown notched 10 of his 20 in the third.
In the fourth, Miller made sure it protected its lead despite PCHS closing the gap to just 62-60 with 1:44 to play.
Ethan DeLaurier also posted a big night with eight points and 12 boards while Ant Davis scored 11 and was particularly efficient, going 4-for-4 from the field. Horne added four steals for the Mavericks and Jacob Rice picked up five boards to go with seven points.
Miller will square off with Highland in the state semifinals Friday at 5:15 p.m.
