The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Milan crushes Chiefs by 22
Big Reds lead by 18 after one, snap five-game losing streak
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
Milan entered last Friday's home game against New Boston Huron on a five-game losing streak during which the Big Reds had struggled in the early going and failed to push their opponents into the up-tempo game they prefer.
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So much for all of that.
Milan roared to a 27-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised past the harried Chiefs, winning 68-46. The Big Reds' full-court press helped force the visitors into 18 first-half turnovers as Milan executed its up-tempo game plan to perfection.
"We pushed the ball extremely well," head coach Jeremy Davies said after the win. "We played the game at the pace we want to play at. They tried to run with us, and it worked out for us instead … we ended up with a lot of easy baskets."
Many of those easy baskets came in the opening quarter, when Milan seized the command of the game it would never relinquish. The Big Red senior backcourt of Randy Monty and Milton Page pounced for six points each in the period, while Paul Irwin came off the bench for a quick five. By the end of the eight minutes, Milan had already grabbed an 18-point lead.
This was a far cry from the team's previous games against Monroe-Jefferson and Airport, in which the Big Reds fell behind by big numbers early and ran out of gas late after clawing out of the early holes.
"That we got off to that kind of start was huge," Davies said. "We had been struggling to score at all in the first quarter, and then we come out and score 27 points … it was nice to see that, that's for sure."
The second, third, and fourth quarters were nearly as nice for the Big Reds. Milan outscored New Boston in every quarter except the fourth, which the visitors entered trailing 59-31, and were never seriously threatened by the Chiefs.
Nine different players scored for Milan in the rout, with the Big Reds getting substantial contributions from role players like junior guard Lance Smith, who scored eight points, and senior forward Cameron Hynds, who scored six points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
"We had a lot of players play a lot of minutes," Davies said, "but what was nice about it was the players we had come off the bench did the exact same thing as the guys they replaced. We didn't have any fall off."
Monty finished with 13 points and seven assists to lead the Big Reds in both categories. Page totaled 12 points and seven rebounds, while Erik Draves recorded eight of each. Zack McGovern scored nine points, Irwin and Erik Gunderson had five, and Kyle Crump had two.
The win evened Milan's overall record at 6-6 and improved their Huron League mark to 2-5 with their next game Friday night at Flat Rock.
Davies said the performance against New Boston Huron showed what the Big Reds are capable of — and what will be expected of them –– down the season's home stretch.
"We set a standard. The bar has been raised," Davies said. "It starts in practice, as a team-wide thing, with accountability. We have to stay at that level we reached the other night."
The Big Reds' battle with Airport was broadcast in conjunction with the Michigan High School Athletic Association over the Internet at www.mhsaa.ezstream.net.
The broadcast is now archived at that address and will be available for 30 days. The next Big Reds' Internet broadcast will be Feb. 13 against Jefferson.
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