<\/div>\nAfter the Millikan Rams shocked many by defeating the Wilson Bruins last week, it looked as though they could be a surprising contender in the Moore League. <\/p>\n
But the first-place Poly Jackrabbits were not surprised in the least, pressuring the Millikan guards from end to end and outrebounding the Rams by 20 in their 60-41 victory. But the true blueprint for victory won’t show up in the box score.<\/p>\n
Two Poly guards, senior Michael Mayes and sophomore Alexis Moore, keyed the defensive attack with relentless end-to-end pressure that led to several Ram turnovers and easy Jackrabbit baskets. Moore led fast breaks en route to four assists while Mayes finished with four steals.<\/p>\n
“I thought that was what changed the game,” Poly head coach Sharrief Metoyer said of his team’s disruptive defense. Center Julian Camper led the Jackrabbits with 22 points, but scored thirteen in the second half when the game was already out of reach. He also added eight rebounds as Poly won the war on the boards, 34-14.<\/p>\n
Midway through the first quarter, Poly forced Millikan into traps and difficult shots time and time again, taking a close 12-10 game and blowing it wide open with a 21-5 run. By halftime, the Jackrabbits led 36-21.<\/p>\n
“We weren’t aggressive enough offensively,” said Millikan head coach Jeff Breuklander. “We started standing around and weren’t making them defend us.”<\/p>\n
Part of the slow offensive start was early foul trouble to leading scorer Kierre Beverly, who was forced to sit with two fouls early in the first half. The 6’4″ senior would return to lead the team with 15 points on 4-11 shooting (1-4 3PT), but was the only Ram to score in double digits. At times he seemed to attempt to take on the entire Jackrabbit defense.<\/p>\n
“Every night there’s a lot on his shoulders,” said Breuklander. “Him being in foul trouble early really hurt us.”<\/p>\n
Poly began the second half with a 15-4 run that brought the score to 51-25, and though Millikan eventually cut it to fifteen they would not get any closer. Neither team shot well from the field, as Millikan was 14-42 and Poly was 17-46. But the Jackrabbits made nine more free-throw attempts and four more three-pointers than the Rams. Mayes boosted his League-wide reputation as a sharpshooter with three triples, and Poly post players Ryan Anderson and Ronald Nezey added nine and six points, respectively. Both had six rebounds. <\/p>\n