Mill Creek Basketball Splits with Bulldogs

The boys' basketball team has had its ups and downs this season, but after Saturday night’s 50–44 victory at North Gwinnett High School, no one can question the Hawks’ heart.

Mill Creek came out to a slow start and had trouble finding its offense early on. Head coach Chad Rogers said Trevon Shaw and Daniel Loudermilk have shown a great deal of improvement recently and the two of them kept the Hawks in the game. Shaw displayed his outside shooting and ability to drive the hoop and draw a foul, while Loudermilk used his lanky 6-foot-6 inch frame to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

“Loudermilk and [Shaw] carried us in the first half,” Rogers said. “[Ronald Wamer] and [Brandon Hayman’s] leadership took over in the second half.

After a quick offensive surge, the Hawks were able to tie the game at 14–14 and it appeared the Mill Creek offense had awoken. However, at the end of the second quarter, a string of turnovers gave the Bulldogs scoring opportunities and the Hawks, clearly frustrated, went into the locker room down 26–21 at the break.

When the teams returned to the floor for the second half, Mill Creek showed its No. 1 ranked defense will be what makes the team a contender in the region.

Wamer led the defense and held the Bulldogs to just six points in the third quarter. Hayman led the Hawks with 19 total points and took over on the offensive side of the ball and essentially took over the game with his ability to utilize his speed and strength to create scoring opportunities.

“Our transition defense stopped their fast breaks and we were able to slow them down,” Loudermilk said.

Though the Bulldogs did cut the Hawks’ lead to just two points during the fourth quarter, Mill Creek rode its momentum and continued to keep the pressure on North Gwinnett’s offense to secure the gutsy 50–44 victory.

“We’re playing as a team and we’re playing with heart,” Rogers said. “We’re making the passes and assists and we’re still the best defensive team in this region.”

LADY HAWKS FALTER

The Lady Hawks played a tough game and showed although they fell to North Gwinnett 76–52, there were some positives for Mill Creek.

In the first quarter, junior Tamarr Williams sunk a three pointer for her first score of what would be a great night for her. However, after the quick start for the Hawks, the scoring slowed and at the end of the quarter, North Gwinnett was up 10–8

At the end of the second quarter, Mill Creek began to slip further behind the Lady Bulldogs, and despite Williams’ 12 first half points, Mill Creek was down 29–21 at the break.

In the second half, the Lady Hawks’ defense could not contain the Bulldog’s attack, and North Gwinnett senior Rachael Brucks drained three second half three pointers to seal the deal for North.

Williams led Mill Creek with 17 points and head coach Ashley Phillips said that even though she had a great game shooting the ball, Williams can bring much more to the table for the Hawks going forward.

“She’s a little streaky but she gives us good defense and things like that every game,” Phillips said. “When we have a good shooting night from her we make the most of it.”

The Mill Creek basketball teams will return to action Tuesday at home against Peachtree Ridge. The girls game begins at 6 p.m. and the boys tip off at 7:30 p.m.