The young Compton Tarbabes learned on Wednesday night that it’s better late than never.  They arrived late to Millikan High and let the host Rams stay in the game until the very end, but sophomore Anthony January and junior Martise Mixon had huge fourth quarters and helped Compton to a 76-73 win. 

The Tarbabes (5-0) stay perfect in the Moore League and set up a battle for first place on Friday night at Poly.  Millikan falls to 2-4 in league after their third loss by three points or less.

Inclement weather and the subsequent road closures/traffic caused the Tarbabes to arrive late and the game to begin an hour after it’s scheduled 6:30pm start.  The two teams early play reflected the delay as they combined to miss their first 10 field goal attempts.

Devon James’ lay up put the first crooked number on the board and launched the Rams to a 14-11 lead with the help of Tababe turnovers.  But a recurring theme of the night was the give and take, and it was Ram turnovers that sparked a 9-0 Compton run.  The two squads combined for 18 turnovers in the first half so the action was end-to-end, but the difference early was in the paint—namely Compton’s Cliff Simms Jr. 

The 6’5” 200lb senior forward bullied under the rim and racked up 13 first quarter points on just nine FG attempts, and finished the game with 12 rebounds.  Millikan adjusted and started to double team Simms off the ball, and it worked as they held him to just five points after the hot start. 

The Tarbabes took the lead into the half, 38-32, using great transition play with the Rams in the press and Allan Guei (15pts, 4 ast) leading the press break.

The third quarter started with a bang as Compton answered the Millikan press with full court pressure of their own, and Malcolm Whittington and Devon James answered the Guei press break with transition game of their own.  Whittington dropped 10 of his game-high 31 points in the third quarter, and James tallied three assists while being the most active on the floor defensively.

The Rams got back within three points, but four quick Millikan turnovers gave the Tarbabes the edge they needed.  Compton went on an 8-4 run with more solid play inside, this time from Devon Thomas.  The sophomore swiped the ball and took it in for the breakaway dunk that gave the Tarbabes their biggest lead, 54-42, with three minutes left in the third quarter.

But like Compton at the beginning of the third, Millikan closed the quarter with six forced turnovers, solid play from Andrew Scott at the high post (22pts, 11reb), and an Alden Darby three pointer that capped a 10-4 run and sent the two teams into the last seven minutes of play tied, 61-61.

From that point on it was the January/Mixon show as they scored 13 of the 16 Tarbabe points in the fourth quarter.  January grabbed seven rebounds and tallied seven of his 17 points in the quarter, but his activity was the difference, and he was looking for Mixon.  The junior guard went 0-for-8 in the first half and didn’t take a shot in the third quarter, but he came back on the floor with seven minutes remaining and hit two huge three pointers to keep Compton in the lead.

Whittington hit a three in the corner to cut the lead to one with a minute remaining, but Guei hit both of his free throws after a foul, and two Millikan turnovers ended the game without a final shot.

“They were waiting for us and came out with energy,” said Compton coach Tony Thomas of Millikan.  “[January] is just so blessed with natural talent, he’s really gifted and he showed it at the end… we played better when we relaxed.  They pressed us, but when we were calm, we played well.  That’s going to be the key against Poly, we just need to stay calm.”