Miller's time comes against Neuqua
The final verdict was as stunning as Zach Miller was unstoppable.
In the championship game of the Elgin Holiday Classic Miller, the junior leader of the Glenbard East boys basketball team, was the star of the show against top-ranked and defending champion Neuqua Valley.
Miller torched the Wildcats for 22 of his game-high 26 points after the intermission, including 4 third-quarter 3-pointers, as the No. 2 Rams posted a decisive 81-63 victory Saturday night in Elgin.
"Zach was outstanding," said Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton, whose club tasted its first defeat after 10 straight wins. "He was probably the MVP of the tournament. (The Rams) showed who the best team in the (Class 4A Neuqua Valley) sectional is."
There was little question as to when Glenbard East (11-1) made its decisive run. After taking a 29-28 lead into the intermission, there were three lead changes in as many possessions to prime the pump. Glenbard East senior Lee Skinner, named to the all-tournament team, forged the lone tie of the game at 33-33, and Miller took over from there.
Miller followed an improbable Shawn Havenga 3-pointer with the first of his four in the quarter, and the 6-point burst gave the Rams a lead they never relinquished. When Miller connected on his third from beyond the arc with 1:37 to play in the third quarter, the Rams' 16-5 run provided the first of multiple double-digit leads after the break.
"It's a big confidence boost for us as a team," Miller said. "It started off with our defense. We got a lot of points off transition, which was big."
Miller then closed the quarter in grand style, sinking another 23-footer with two Neuqua Valley defenders in his face with less than a second to play to increase the Rams' lead to 54-41 entering the fourth quarter. With Neuqua Valley employing a gambling defense to force the tempo, Miller changed roles in the final quarter, utilizing his point-guard skills.
Skinner and Johnny Hill were the primary beneficiaries as the two combined for 15 of the Rams' 27 points in the final quarter.
"I never thought it would be this one-sided," Hill said.
The junior earned an all-tournament selection, finishing with 17 points in the championship game; Skinner added 16 more, and guard Jack Merrithey was the fourth Glenbard East starter in double figures with 11 points.
As if the Rams' triumph needed additional flavor, their collective work on the glass was also undeniable. Glenbard East had 14 offensive rebounds, turning many second chances into inside scores.
"Rebounding is a disaster right now," Sutton said.
"We were worried coming in tonight that we would get beat up on the glass," Glenbard East coach Scott Miller said.
Dwayne Evans' 17 points paced Neuqua Valley, which also received double-figure production from Kareem Amedu and Kyle Pembrook with 15 and 12 points.