It was a coming-out party for Millennium's 5-foot-11 senior forward Quynne Huggins in Millennium High School's big 52-43 Division-I state semi-final victory over top-ranked Desert Vista High School at Grand Canyon University. Huggins has been consistent in her play all season long, but on Friday evening she was absolutely terrific - leading her team to the school's first ever state championship game.
Huggins scored a game-high 19 points and played with superior confidence in the game - joining fellow star 5-foot-6 junior point guard Raina Perez, who also had another terrific effort - 16 points, 4 assists and 4 steals.
Perez is the state's top junior prospect, and she would make it known early in the game with several bursts of speed in transition - several of which turned into transition layups. Millennium would take a 12-8 first quarter lead over Desert Vista, the state's premier team.
Desert Vista had won last year's Division-I state title with an almost perfect season. Very early in the season, Millennium had defeated Desert Vista in surprising fashion. The Tigers would look to get another win on Friday evening, but this time, also look to make a statement.
After a spinning layup in transition by Perez in the second period, and then a three-pointer from promising 6-foot-1 junior post Adriana Zelaya, Millennium would jump out to a 18-11 lead with 4:18 remainning in the period. Desert Vista would fight back, and Millennium would go into the half with a 22 to 19 advantage.
In the second half, Huggins would take over for Millennium, while 6-foot senior forward Wati Franklin would provide very impresssive all evening on Desert Vista's dominant post player, 6-foot-4 senior post Kristine Anigwe (CAL signee). Anigwe is the state's most dominant presence - ranked among the nation's Top 20 prospects by ESPN and a 2015 McDonald's All-American. Anigwe would have to work hard inside against Franklin all game. She finished with 14 points on the evening.
Huggins would score on a reverse layup and then Perez would convert a driving layup in transition to put Millennium ahead, 31-28, with 2:20 left to play in the third period.
Desert Vista star senior guard Sabrina Haines (Arizona State signee) would not look for her shot much in the contest, but she would make a nice cross-over dribble and a jumper to bring DV to within one-point, 31-30, but a three-pointer from Huggins just before the end of the period would give Millennium a four-point advantage going into the fourth period.
Huggins would not slow down either, as she would convert two consecutive transtion layups in the fourth period to help her team push their lead to 8 points with 3:24 left to play. Then a mid-range jumper from Perez with 2 minutes remainning would seal the semi-final victory for Millennium, as they would cruise to a 52-43 win over the defending state champs.
Millennium will advance to take on Dobson High School in the Division-I state final on Monday afternoon at Gila River Arena.
